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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a wildlife corridor action plan developed by the Parks |
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and Wildlife Department and certain other duties of the department |
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relating to wildlife corridors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. WILDLIFE CORRIDORS |
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Sec. 12.801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Plan" means the wildlife corridor action plan |
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developed under this subchapter. |
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(2) "Wildlife corridor" means a designated area that |
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connects wildlife populations and habitats that would otherwise be |
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separated by human activities or structures. |
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Sec. 12.802. WILDLIFE CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN. (a) The |
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department, in consultation with the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, shall develop a wildlife corridor action plan that |
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recommends and prioritizes wildlife crossing projects intended to |
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promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity. |
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(b) In developing the plan, the department shall use the |
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best available science and department surveys to identify, list, |
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and describe: |
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(1) wildlife corridors; |
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(2) existing and planned barriers to wildlife movement |
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along wildlife corridors; |
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(3) areas with a high risk of vehicle collisions with |
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wildlife; |
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(4) habitats that are: |
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(A) of high quality for priority species and |
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ecosystem health; |
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(B) occupied by rare or at-risk species; or |
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(C) designated as critical habitat under the |
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Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Section 1531 et seq.); |
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(5) migration routes of native, game, and migratory |
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species; and |
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(6) land containing a high prevalence of existing |
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human barriers to wildlife corridors, including roads, dams, power |
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lines, and pipelines. |
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(c) The plan must recommend wildlife crossing projects that |
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prioritize promotion of driver safety and wildlife connectivity. |
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For each recommended project, the plan must include a description |
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of the project and the proposed wildlife crossing infrastructure or |
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other mitigation techniques recommended to meet plan goals. |
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(d) The department shall include in the plan maps detailing |
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high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure and any |
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other information necessary to meet the goals of the plan. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the department shall |
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submit the plan to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker |
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of the house of representatives. This subsection expires September |
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1, 2027. |
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Sec. 12.803. COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The |
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department shall assist other state agencies and political |
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subdivisions of this state, and on request any federal agency, to |
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consider and incorporate wildlife corridors, including plan |
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recommendations, when developing any governmental strategic plan, |
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map, or action. |
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Sec. 12.804. PLAN PUBLICATION AND UPDATES. The department |
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shall: |
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(1) maintain publication of the plan on the |
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department's Internet website; and |
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(2) periodically update the department's Internet |
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website with information regarding the implementation of wildlife |
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corridor projects recommended under the plan. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |