Bill > SB6237

This bill aims to ensure connectivity for Washington wildlife through safe passages. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Directing the departments of fish and wildlife and transportation to develop an integrated strategy to implement and update the state's wildlife habitat connectivity action plan, which identifies priority areas for habitat protection and wildlife crossing structures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat fragmentation. 2. Establishing the Washington wildlife corridors account and the Washington wildlife crossings account to fund activities like purchasing conservation easements, constructing wildlife crossing structures, and monitoring their effectiveness. 3. Requiring the Department of Fish and Wildlife to update the wildlife habitat connectivity action plan every six years and provide biennial reports on implementation progress and funding needs. 4. Amending the state's treasury income account statutes to include the new wildlife corridors and crossings accounts as recipients of a proportionate share of investment earnings. The overall goal of the bill is to preserve the state's natural heritage, improve highway safety, and enhance ecological connectivity for Washington's fish and wildlife species.