LOC News
City Action Needed on Priority Lodging Tax Bill
HB 3556, the LOC’s lodging tax flexibility priority bill, had a public hearing on Thursday, March 20 at 1 p.m. in the House Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans Committee (HEMGGV). The bill adds “tourism-impacted services” as an allowable use in the restricted 70% portion. These services include public safety (fire, EMS, and police) and community infrastructure (water, wastewater, transportation, parks, trails and public amenities). The bill is tentatively scheduled for a work session on Tuesday. The LOC needs cities to reach out to HEMGGV committee members and request that they vote “yes” to move HB 3556 to the House Revenue Committee.
Cities can still submit written testimony to the record in support of HB 3556 until Saturday at 1 p.m. The LOC has prepared sample testimony and talking points that members can use in written testimony.
In 2003, the state passed a preemption on local transient lodging taxes that established restrictions around how local lodging tax dollars could be spent, requiring at least 70% of new or increased taxes to go toward tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities and reserving the remaining 30% for local discretionary spending.
Contact: Jenna Jones, Lobbyist – jjones@orcities.org
Last Updated 3/21/25