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S 3618

Relates to the tribal-state compact revenue account

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Ortt

DEP and DOT must jointly create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan to map corridors and collision hotspots, set crossing criteria, and weave crossings into transportation projects.

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Bill Summary · S 3618

Summary — S.3618 (P.L.2025, c.77) — Wildlife Corridor Action Plan

Status: Enacted (P.L.2025, c.77, approved June 30, 2025).
Originally introduced: September 19, 2024.

Purpose

Require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to jointly develop a statewide "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan" to identify wildlife movement corridors and collision hotspots, recommend criteria for wildlife crossing projects, and coordinate measures that improve safety for motorists and wildlife while informing transportation planning.

Key provisions

  • Joint plan: DEP and DOT must jointly develop a “Wildlife Corridor Action Plan” no later than 36 months after the law’s effective date and update it at least every 10 years. A summary of the plan (and any updates) must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within 60 days of completion.
  • Plan contents: must
    • identify wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, and existing or planned barriers to movement;
    • identify and recommend criteria for “crossing projects” that promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity;
    • use relevant State databases and incorporate existing conservation strategies (e.g., State Wildlife Action Plan, NJ CHANJ);
    • consider impacts of transportation projects and recommend mitigation strategies and safety measures to reduce threats to wildlife corridors; and
    • coordinate among State and federal agencies and conservation groups.
  • DOT review for project inclusion: no later than 36 months after submitting the plan, DOT must review the plan and identify and recommend crossing projects that, to the extent feasible, may be incorporated into transportation projects. DOT is prohibited from recommending crossings for transportation projects that have advanced beyond the concept development phase, selection of a preferred alternative, or equivalent milestone since the law’s enactment.
  • Definitions: “crossing project” (measures added to transportation projects to promote driver safety and habitat connectivity); “transportation project” (projects involving roadways, bridges, or culverts included in the State’s Annual Transportation Capital Program — excludes maintenance or repair projects); “wildlife corridor” (land enabling wildlife movement without significant risk from vehicles or man-made barriers).
  • Rulemaking and coordination: DEP and DOT may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act and may solicit advice/services from other state/federal agencies and conservation organizations.

Who/what is affected

  • DEP and DOT (primary implementing agencies).
  • State transportation projects included in the Annual Transportation Capital Program (subject to potential design changes if crossings are recommended before project milestones).
  • Motorists, wildlife populations, conservation organizations, and other state/federal partners involved in planning and implementation.

Fiscal and implementation impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimate: approximately $600,000 in additional State expenditures approximately every 10 years to support plan development and related staffing (estimated 4 FTEs total across the two departments — 2 in each).
  • DOT may incur indeterminate annual cost increases to add recommended crossing features to transportation projects; final costs depend on the number and type of crossings incorporated and the stage of project planning.
  • Earlier bill versions included a $90,000 appropriation; that appropriation was removed in later amendments and not in the final enacted law.

Procedural history (selected)

  • Introduced in Senate: 9/19/2024.
  • Reported with amendments by Senate and Assembly committees (2024–2025).
  • Passed both Houses and approved as P.L.2025, c.77: 6/30/2025.

Notes: The law is codified at C.23:2A-7.1 et seq. and focuses implementation on early-stage planning so wildlife-crossing design recommendations can realistically be incorporated into transportation projects before key project milestones are passed.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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