Oregon Legislative Recap: Conservation Progress in a Challenging Session

Oregon’s 2026 short legislative session has concluded and was shaped largely by debates over federal budget cuts and long-term transportation funding. Despite these pressures, the session delivered meaningful progress for fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation—outcomes that are especially important to members of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders.

A Landmark Investment in Fish and Wildlife

The most significant development of the session was the bipartisan passage of House Bill 4134, known as the “1.25% for Wildlife” bill. This legislation represents one of the most substantial and durable investments in Oregon’s natural resources in decades. An incredibly large and diverse coalition of conservation advocates worked together to get this bill over the finish line.

HB 4134 establishes a stable, long-term funding mechanism for conservation through a modest increase in the statewide transient lodging tax. The tax is estimated to raise approximately $38 million per year. The resulting revenue will support a wide range of critical initiatives, including:

• Implementation of the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), benefiting more than 300 imperiled species and their habitats
• Expansion of the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund to improve outdoor access and support community-based conservation
• Enhancements to wildlife connectivity, reducing habitat fragmentation and dangerous crossings
• Increased anti-poaching enforcement capacity
• Wolf conflict mitigation efforts to support coexistence
• Improved invasive species detection and rapid response
• Investment in wildlife stewardship and rehabilitation programs
• Support for the Oregon Conservation Corps, advancing wildfire resilience and workforce development

For the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, this investment underscores the importance of sustained advocacy and collaboration. We remain committed to working alongside the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) as implementation begins, ensuring that these new resources translate into tangible benefits for fish, habitat, and angling opportunity. We expect the governor to sign this bill into within the next few days.

Budget Outlook and Agency Priorities

Leaders at ODFW have expressed cautious optimism regarding the agency’s final budget. While the broader fiscal environment required adjustments, the outcome maintains key program areas important to conservation and fisheries management. Additional details are expected as ODFW continues to communicate how these adjustments will affect specific programs of interest to anglers.

Other Legislative Developments

Several additional bills of interest to Steelheaders saw mixed outcomes this session:

• Senate Bill 1590, which would establish state-level restrictions on the sale of federal public lands, has passed the Legislature but is still awaiting the Governor’s signature. This measure reflects growing concern over maintaining public access to lands that support recreation and habitat conservation.
• Senate Bill 1545, commonly referred to as the “Corner Crossing” bill, was ultimately deferred to a future session. The proposal faced significant opposition from property rights advocates and agricultural interests, highlighting the ongoing complexity of access issues across the West.

Looking Ahead

The making and the implementing of laws has become a year-round activity in both Oregon and Washington, and after the mid-term elections this year many of our elected officials will change. This means there will be opportunities to make new relationships with policy makers. We encourage anglers to follow state policy and political stories affecting the interests of anglers.

As the Legislature moves into the interim period, attention will shift toward implementation of newly passed laws and the development of future policy proposals. In addition to the implementation of the new TLT tax, of particular importance to Steelheaders is ongoing work by the Oregon Department of State Lands to implement a 2025 law expanding the use of navigability declarations. This effort aligns closely with the Association’s long-standing commitment to improving public access across Oregon’s river systems.

The Association of Northwest Steelheaders will continue to engage with agency partners, monitor emerging campaigns, and advocate for policies that protect and enhance fisheries, habitat, and angler access. This session demonstrated that even in a challenging political environment, bipartisan solutions for conservation remain achievable—and impactful.

Should you have any questions about policy work, please don’t hesitate to reach out.