Maryland legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Maryland HB731: Wildlife - Protections and Highway Crossings
Status: Chaptered, May 13, 2025
Establishing the Maryland Connectivity Coalition to foster collaboration among State and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders for the purpose of protecting endangered wildlife from habitat fragmentation; requiring the State Highway Administration to have final decision-making authority regarding decisions related to placement, funding, or design of wildlife crossings; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Wildlife - Protections and Highway Crossings FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Connectivity Coalition; establishing that the State Highway Administration has final decision-making authority regarding certain decisions; establishing the Wildlife Connectivity Fund; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a website to be used for accepting donations for certain purposes; requiring the State Highway Administration to include certain information in each consolidated transportation plan of the State…
From the enrolled text, May 15, 2025:
AN ACT concerning Wildlife - Protections and Highway Crossings FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Connectivity Coalition; establishing that the State Highway Administration has final decision-making authority regarding certain decisions; establishing the Wildlife Connectivity Fund; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to develop a website to be used for accepting donations for certain purposes; requiring the State Highway Administration to include certain information in each consolidated transportation plan of the State; requiring a county or local jurisdiction to consider certain factors when enacting, adopting, amending, or executing a comprehensive plan; and generally relating to wildlife protection. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Natural Resources Section 10-2A-01(a), (d), and (l) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Natural Resources Section 10-2A-06.2 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Land Use Section 1-408 and 3-104 Annotated Code of Maryland (2012 Volume and 2024 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 6-226(a)(2)(i) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)204. and 205. Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) Ch. 549 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND …