Policy Options

‘**’ indicates bipartisan support

Wildlife Corridor Conservation

• Florida SB 976 (Enacted 2021): Tasks state agencies with maintaining habitat connectivity and preventing habitat fragmentation; designates the Florida Wildlife Corridor comprising over 18 million acres. Florida established a $100 million annual appropriation to acquire land and complete linkages within the Corridor, with one-time appropriations made in 2021 ($300 million) and 2023 ($850 million). 

• California SB 790 (Enacted 2021): Authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to approve compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions taken under the state’s conservation and mitigation banking program and regional conservation investment strategy program.

Transportation Planning

• Colorado SB 22-151 (Enacted 2022): Creates the safe passages fund for CDOT to use for road projects that reduce wildlife vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, and appropriates $5 million. 

• New Mexico (2019),  Oregon (2019), and Virginia (2020) have each established Wildlife Corridor Action Plans in collaboration between each state’s wildlife and transportation agency.

• Utah SB 3 (Enacted 2023): Appropriates $20 million to the Department of Transportation to match federal discretionary wildlife mitigation grants.

Land Use Planning

• California AB 1889 (Enacted 2024): Requires a city or county general plan to include a wildlife connectivity element that considers the effect of development within the jurisdiction on fish, wildlife, and habitat connectivity.

• Maryland HB 731 / SB 635 (Enacted 2025): Among other provisions related to habitat connectivity, requires a county or local jurisdiction to consider connectivity when enacting, adopting, amending, or executing a comprehensive plan.

Energy Infrastructure

• Colorado HB 25-1292 (Enacted 2025): Facilitates the co-location of transmission lines along highways including to reduce impacts on wildlife and habitat compared to building new lines through greenfield areas.
• **Maine LD 1881 (Enacted 2023): Requires a person engaging in a solar energy development to pay a compensation fee, and creates a compensation fund to be spent on projects that restore, enhance, or preserve habitat comparable to the habitat affected by the development of solar and related transmission.
• Washington HB 1216 / SB 5196 (Enacted 2023): Requires the Department of Ecology to prepare environmental impact statements on adverse environmental impacts and mitigation measures for clean energy projects considering cumulative impacts to habitat connectivity among other priorities.

Working Lands

• Colorado HB 22-1072 (Enacted 2022): Expands the scope of the Colorado Habitat Partnership Program to include private land conservation, prioritizing projects involving forage or fencing.
• Montana Habitat Conservation Lease Program: Established by the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission in 2023 to provide funding for 30 or 40-year habitat leases on up to 500k acres, with provisions for public access.
• Vermont H. 697 (Enacted 2022): Expands eligibility of a Use Value Appraisal property tax incentive for landowners to maintain long-term forestry or agricultural production (See H. 126 for how private land is included in the state’s 30×30 goals).

Other Infrastructure Mitigation

• New Jersey S. 3916 / A. 5486 (Enacted 2024): Expands eligibility for existing wildlife fencing programs by establishing a matching grant program that includes farmers leasing farmland.
• New Mexico §74-12-1 (1999): “The Night Sky Protection Act.” Requires all outdoor lighting fixtures to be shielded, with exceptions for fixtures of 150 watts or less. Prohibits outdoor recreational facilities from using lighting after 11:00 p.m. Provides for a fine of up to $25 for any person, firm or corporation in violation of the law. 
• Washington DC B24-0710 (Enacted 2022): Requires the use of bird friendly materials for new building construction or exterior wall improvements.