Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2892 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R10999 MP-D
2	2	By: Cook S.B. No. 2892
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to a wildlife corridor action plan developed by the Parks
10	10	and Wildlife Department and certain other duties of the department
11	11	relating to wildlife corridors.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
14	14	by adding Subchapter I to read as follows:
15	15	SUBCHAPTER I. WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
16	16	Sec. 12.801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
17	17	(1) "Plan" means the wildlife corridor action plan
18	18	developed under this subchapter.
19	19	(2) "Wildlife corridor" means a designated area that
20	20	connects wildlife populations and habitats that would otherwise be
21	21	separated by human activities or structures.
22	22	Sec. 12.802. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN. (a) The
23	23	department, in consultation with the Texas Department of
24	24	Transportation, shall develop a wildlife corridor action plan that
25	25	recommends and prioritizes wildlife crossing projects intended to
26	26	promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity.
27	27	(b) In developing the plan, the department shall use the
28	28	best available science and department surveys to identify, list,
29	29	and describe:
30	30	(1) wildlife corridors;
31	31	(2) existing and planned barriers to wildlife movement
32	32	along wildlife corridors;
33	33	(3) areas with a high risk of vehicle collisions with
34	34	wildlife;
35	35	(4) habitats that are:
36	36	(A) of high quality for priority species and
37	37	ecosystem health;
38	38	(B) occupied by rare or at-risk species; or
39	39	(C) designated as critical habitat under the
40	40	Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Section 1531 et seq.);
41	41	(5) migration routes of native, game, and migratory
42	42	species; and
43	43	(6) land containing a high prevalence of existing
44	44	human barriers to wildlife corridors, including roads, dams, power
45	45	lines, and pipelines.
46	46	(c) The plan must recommend wildlife crossing projects that
47	47	prioritize promotion of driver safety and wildlife connectivity.
48	48	For each recommended project, the plan must include a description
49	49	of the project and the proposed wildlife crossing infrastructure or
50	50	other mitigation techniques recommended to meet plan goals.
51	51	(d) The department shall include in the plan maps detailing
52	52	high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure and any
53	53	other information necessary to meet the goals of the plan.
54	54	(e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the department shall
55	55	submit the plan to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker
56	56	of the house of representatives. This subsection expires September
57	57	1, 2027.
58	58	Sec. 12.803. COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The
59	59	department shall assist other state agencies and political
60	60	subdivisions of this state, and on request any federal agency, to
61	61	consider and incorporate wildlife corridors, including plan
62	62	recommendations, when developing any governmental strategic plan,
63	63	map, or action.
64	64	Sec. 12.804. PLAN PUBLICATION AND UPDATES. The department
65	65	shall:
66	66	(1) maintain publication of the plan on the
67	67	department's Internet website; and
68	68	(2) periodically update the department's Internet
69	69	website with information regarding the implementation of wildlife
70	70	corridor projects recommended under the plan.
71	71	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
72	72	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
73	73	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
74	74	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
75	75	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.