House Bill 4148 - Wildlife Package - Update
/From the Office of Representative Ken Helm:
After unanimous passage from the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water on Tue 2/13, [HB 4148] has moved to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means for budget consideration.
This week, outreach to legislators is important as they weigh which bills will be funded through Ways & Means this year. For interested individuals/organizations, key legislators to contact with advocacy to pass HB 4148 include Ways & Means Co-Chair Steiner, Co-Chair Sanchez, Subcommittee on Natural Resources Co-Chair Dembrow, Subcommittee on Natural Resources Co-Chair K. Pham, House Speaker Rayfield, and Senate President Wagner.
Addressing Wildlife Disease The Oregon and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OVDL) plays a vital role in public health, responding to issues of serious concern for people and wildlife, including contagious bacterial disease, avian flu, and mosquito-born illnesses. Yet, the OVDL remains in need of resources. Consistent with recommendations from the legislative report directed by HB 4128 (2022), HB 4148 allocates $3.5 million for critical equipment and capacity necessary for the OVDL and the state Wildlife Health Lab to combat threats such as Chronic Wasting Disease and zoonotic diseases.
Promoting Wildlife Stewardship and Coexistence With population growth and other pressures, greater public education is needed on living alongside wildlife, as well as a need to advance humane solutions when conflicts arise. Originally proposed in ODFW POP 113 (2023 (pp. 786-789), HB 4148 would establish a program at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, including biologists to support informed stewardship across the state, investments in public education, and grants to rehabilitation centers that care for injured animals.
Ensuring Safe Passage for People and Wildlife Efforts to reduce the numerous vehicle crashes involving Oregon wildlife have proven both highly popular and extremely effective. HB 4148 will further improve outcomes by bolstering technical guidance available to planners and engineers integrating wildlife crossing features in highway projects. The bill would also update relevant agency reports to ensure we have the information we need on projects, timelines, and funding.
Responding to Invasive Species Invasive species are associated with an estimated $200 billion in losses and control costs nationally each year (adjusted to 2024 dollars). In Oregon, invasive sudden oak death can cause as much as $600 million per year in damage to our forest and nursery sectors, and threats continue to arise such as European green crabs impacting northwest fisheries and highly damaging quagga mussels discovered in Idaho and recently transported into Oregon. Similar to wildfire response, addressing invasive species is a race against the clock. HB 4148 would allocate $1.5 million for the Oregon Invasive Species Council to evaluate and address vulnerabilities, increase public awareness, and respond to emergencies.
JOIN THE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL 4148
Overwhelming bipartisan support from communities across Oregon; the Oregon Wildlife Coalition; Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus; Oregon Environmental Caucus; Oregon Conservation Network; and many more!
The Humane Society of the United States The Intertwine Alliance The Nature Conservancy The Pew Charitable Trusts The Wildlife Society, Oregon Chapter Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Think Wild Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Wallowa Land Trust Western Environmental Law Center Western Invasives Network Western Watersheds Project Wildlands Network Wildlife Center of the North Coast Willamette Riverkeeper Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District 350PDX and many more