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.