Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee Statement to Senate, No. 3618

Summary

The Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee of the State of New Jersey, in a statement dated June 12, 2025, reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3618 (2R). The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation, no later than 36 months after the effective date, to jointly develop a "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan" identifying wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots and barriers to wildlife movement. The plan is to be updated every 10 years, and the Department of Transportation is to recommend crossing projects for inclusion in certain transportation projects. The committee amended the bill to remove the $90,000 appropriation.

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ASSEMBLY COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No.
3618

with
committee amendments

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE
12, 2025

The Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and
Agriculture Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate
Bill No. 3618 (2R).

As amended and reported, this bill requires the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of
Transportation (DOT), no later than 36 months after the effective date of the
bill, to jointly develop a “Wildlife Corridor Action Plan” (plan) that: (1)
identifies wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, and
existing or planned barriers to wildlife movement along these corridors; (2)
maximizes the effectiveness and safety of wildlife corridors; and (3)
incorporates the other elements and actions enumerated in the bill. The bill
requires the DEP and the DOT to update the plan every 10 years. In addition,
the bill requires the DOT, no later than 36 months after the plan has been
submitted to the Governor and the Legislature, to review the plan and identify
and recommend crossing projects for inclusion, to the extent feasible, in
certain transportation projects. The bill authorizes the DEP and the DOT,
while developing the plan and reviewing the plan for crossing projects to be
included in certain transportation projects, to call upon the advice and
services of other State agencies and independent authorities, federal agencies,
and national and State conservation, environment, or wildlife groups and
organizations.

Finally, the bill permits the DEP and the DOT to adopt
regulations necessary to implement the bill’s provisions.

As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill
No. 3618 (2R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4926 (1R), as was also amended
and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :

The committee amended the bill to remove the $90,000 appropriation
and update the bill’s title and synopsis.

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