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Public Affairs

It’s our privilege and responsibility to work on behalf of tourism industry partners coastwide. We've compiled these resources to support our stakeholders as we work together for the good of the Oregon Coast.

Photo: Erik Urdahl

It’s our privilege and responsibility to work on behalf of tourism industry partners coastwide. We've compiled these resources to support our stakeholders as we work together for the good of the Oregon Coast.

OCVA and Public Affairs

As the Regional Destination Management Organization for the entire Oregon Coast, it’s our privilege and responsibility to work on behalf of tourism industry partners coastwide.

Our public affairs work includes monitoring opportunities and challenges within our industry; monitoring the economic impact of tourism for our communities; tracking bills and advocating for tourism in the Oregon state legislature; communicating the value of tourism to coastal communities and stakeholders; and sharing information and resources with our industry partners.

2025 Oregon Legislative Session

We are tracking several bills in the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session that may have a significant impact on Oregon Coast tourism.

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  • A major piece of legislation that threatens the coastal economy is HB 3962 (formerly HB 3556), which would allow tax districts to redirect a portion of net lodging tax revenues to fund essential services, shifting money away from tourism promotion and development.

    Why is the Oregon Coast Visitors Association opposing HB 3962?

    This bill would reduce the percentage of Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) funds dedicated to tourism promotion and support, diverting them into general city or county budgets. This shift could have long-term negative impacts on tourism, which is a primary economic driver for coastal communities.

    Tourism-related businesses and local economies rely on TLT funds to enhance visitor experiences, support tourism infrastructure, and market the Oregon Coast as a premier destination. If this allocation is changed, it could weaken the tourism industry’s ability to sustain and grow the economy.

    What can you do?

    Submit written testimony in opposition to HB 3962. Personalized testimony from local DMOs and tourism industry stakeholders will be essential in reinforcing the importance of protecting TLT for tourism promotion and development.

    Learn more and read sample testimony.

  • In the 2025 session, we are watching bills related to recreational immunity. Specifically, Senate Bill 179 would restore recreational immunity protections for cities, counties, and government agencies that allow public access to their land for recreation. This would protect these entities from liability in cases of injury sustained by individuals recreating on their land.

    The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) is part of a coalition advocating for this bill, alongside the Oregon Trails Coalition, Salmonberry Trail, League of Oregon Cities, the Association of Oregon Counties, and others.

    Recreational immunity is essential not only for local outdoor enthusiasts but also for visitors who come to the coast for recreation. We strongly advocate for expanding this bill to include private landowners in addition to public lands. Ensuring private landowners have the same protections as public entities would enable the continued access of many of our beaches and trails, benefiting both visitors and locals.

    What you can say:

    As stakeholders in Oregon Coast tourism, we support extending recreational immunity protections to all recreational lands open to the public for free use, including privately owned properties. Expanding this protection will help ensure greater access to recreation along the coast while mitigating legal risks for landowners who allow public access.

    Learn more and read sample testimony. 

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2025 Bills to watch

  • SB 929

    Oregon Coast Trail

    The Act would give money to the SPRD to work on the Oregon Coast Trail. (Flesch Readability Score: 84.4). Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Parks and Recreation Department for planning and coordination to continue to develop, maintain or work toward completion of the Oregon Coast Trail. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

  • SB 453

    TLT Allocation Changes - Study

    The Act would require a study of the split that local transient lodging tax districts are allowed for the use of their revenues. A report will be submitted by September 15 of next year. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.6). Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the 70 percent-30 percent division between the permissible uses of new and increased local transient lodging tax revenues. Directs the officer to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to revenue no later than September 15, 2026.

  • Senate Bill 457

    Study Using TLT Funds for Public Safety as Tourism Infrastructure

    Senate Bill 457 mandates the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the current 70%-30% division between permissible uses of new and increased local TLT revenues. Potential outcomes of this session could result in adjustments to TLT structures and allocations that could impact funding for tourism promotion and infrastructure. More info on these specifics coming soon! For now, check out our article on Debunking Myths about Oregon’s Transient Lodging Tax.

  • TLT-Funded Ocean Beach Fund

    Senate Bill 358

    Creates the Ocean Beach Fund using a portion of the state’s lodging tax. One percent of the tax collected from overnight stays at state recreation areas along the ocean shore will go into this fund. The State Parks and Recreation Department will use the money to help maintain and manage these coastal recreation areas.

  • Senate Bill 434

    TLT-Funded Ocean Beach Fund (2)

    Creates the Ocean Beach Fund using a portion of the state lodging tax. One percent of the tax collected from overnight stays at coastal state parks will go into this fund. The State Parks and Recreation Department will use the money to maintain and manage these areas, ensuring they remain well-kept and accessible for visitors, which could enhance tourism and outdoor recreation.

  • SB 179

    Making Current Recreational Immunity Law Permanent

    This Act makes permanent changes to the laws that shield landowners from lawsuits from visitors. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8). Makes permanent the temporary changes made to the landowner immunity laws by chapter 64, Oregon Laws 2024.

  • House Bill 2295

    Recreational Immunity

    This Act amends laws shielding land owners from lawsuits by outdoor visitors and amends landowner immunity provisions to focus on the activities and outdoor location of injured users and not the users’ intended purposes

    This comes in response to the recreational immunity issue brought to the forefront by a court case involving the City of Newport. This bill, regarding recreational immunity, expands the definition and list of activities that fall under recreational immunity and ensures that cities, counties, special government districts, etc., fall under this concept, which exempts them from lawsuits when they make lands available for recreational uses. While this is only a temporary fix, it will keep trails open this summer.

    In 2024, a work group convened to create long-term fixes to recreational immunity going forward. OCVA will be continuing to participate in that discussion throughout the 2025 legislative session. 

  • House Bill 3140

    Recreation liability and release from negligence

    The Act says that an operator can make a person who does recreation release the operator from some types of claims, and tells OBDD to study issues for the recreation industry and make a report. An operator may require a person who engages in a sport, fitness or recreational activity in various ways to release the operator from claims for ordinary negligence.

    Directs the Oregon Business Development Department, with the assistance of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, to study issues facing the recreation industry and report to a committee of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment no later than September 15, 2026. Appropriates moneys for study.

    This comes in response to the recreational immunity issue brought to the forefront by a court case involving the City of Newport. This bill, regarding recreational immunity, expands the definition and list of activities that fall under recreational immunity and ensures that cities, counties, special government districts, etc., fall under this concept, which exempts them from lawsuits when they make lands available for recreational uses. While this is only a temporary fix, it will keep trails open this summer.

    In 2024, a work group convened to create long-term fixes to recreational immunity going forward. OCVA will be continuing to participate in that discussion throughout the 2025 legislative session. 

  • Senate Bill 470

    Recordings of Visitors at Lodging Establishments

    Prohibits a transient lodging provider and a transient lodging intermediary from making, storing, transmitting or transferring an audio or video recording of an occupant of transient lodging in any space within the transient lodging in which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Punishes violation of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

  • House Bill 2137

    Eliminates day-use parking fees in state parks for OR registered vehicles

    Establishes the Oregon Parks for All Subaccount within the Parks Donation Trust Fund. Allows Oregon residents to voluntarily donate money when registering their vehicles, which will be used to provide free state park access for residents and support park maintenance. Removes the requirement for Oregon-registered vehicles to purchase day-use parking passes at state parks. Requires the State Parks and Recreation Department to report on the program’s progress to the Legislature by October 1, 2026.

  • House Bill 2171

    Fairgrounds lodging tax exemption

    Provides an exemption from the state transient lodging tax for a camping site on a county fairgrounds that has not more than 50 camping sites with both direct electrical hookups and individual sewer hookups.

  • House Bill 2194

    OR Hotel Anti-human-trafficking training

    Creates an income tax credit for providing employees of hotels and inns human trafficking awareness training. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2033.

  • House Bill 3100

    Lottery funds Business Oregon for crafting a trade strategy

    The Act directs lottery funds to Business Oregon to create a statewide trade strategy. The Oregon Business Development Department will work with the Port of Portland, the Oregon Tourism Commission, the State Department of Agriculture, and other key stakeholders to develop a unified plan that supports Oregon’s economy, industries, and global trade opportunities.

  • HB 3325

    Changing TLT Percentages in Tourism Dependent Counties

    The Act would let tax districts in counties with high tourist counts use a certain percent of net lodging taxes for essential services. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). Provides that taxing districts within counties with high averaged annual ratios of tourists to residents may expend a certain percentage of net transient lodging taxes for essential services that benefit both residents and tourists. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

  • Senate Bill 338

    Marine Zones

    Requires the Governor to certify to the United States Secretary of Commerce that the designation of a national marine sanctuary located within the seaward boundary of Oregon is unacceptable unless the Legislative Assembly confirms the designation.

  • House Bill 2773

    Grants for recreational fishing facilities

    The Act tells an agency to create a program for fishing in certain areas. The Act ends the program on January 2, 2028. Directs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a program to award grants for recreational fishing facilities within an urban growth boundary. Sunsets the program on January 2, 2028.

  • House Bill 2979

    Appropriates moneys to various entities for food production and distribution

    The Act gives money to DAS to give to groups to help produce and distribute food. Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for distribution to various entities for food production and distribution.

  • Senate Bill 208

    Seaweed Production Study

    Directs the State Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Oregon State University, to study the potential for developing commercial seaweed production for certain purposes. Directs the department to report on the study on or before September 15, 2027. Appropriates moneys to Oregon State University, out of the General Fund, for the study.

  • Senate Bill 363

    Meat Processing Businesses

    Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Department of Agriculture to fund a grant program related to establishments that process and sell meat products.

  • Senate Bill 752

    Statewide Economic Development Plan

    Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to review statewide economic development plans and strategies implemented in the other states and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly that includes recommendations for the creation of a statewide economic development plan for Oregon.

Industry News

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