Committee Passes Bill to Improve Road Safety, Reduce Costs and Fund Wildlife Crossings

DENVER, CO – The House Finance Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to prevent wildlife collisions and improve road safety. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, also sponsored by Rep. Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, passed by a vote of 8-2.

“The success of the Kremmling wildlife crossing has made it clear that wildlife crossings help prevent dangerous accidents,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Wildlife collisions are common on the Western Slope, which not only makes road travel risky, but also drives up car insurance costs and impacts Colorado’s ecosystem. Our bipartisan bill would create more opportunities to build wildlife crossings, saving lives and protecting Colorado wildlife.”

SB26-141 would create an optional $5 collision prevention fee during annual vehicle registration, creating reliable and dedicated funding for wildlife crossing infrastructure.

The bill aims to dramatically reduce motor vehicle crashes with wildlife by authorizing an optional $5 fee that will be collected during annual vehicle registration beginning in 2027. The fund would be used to construct wildlife collision prevention infrastructure, including overpasses, underpasses, jump-outs, and fencing, and would also allow Colorado to leverage federal matching funds for these projects. A portion of the funds would also benefit the Wildlife Cash Fund, administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to conserve habitat on either side of the crossings.

Collisions with wildlife can be fatal, damage property, and create financial burdens. In 2024, at least 3,500 crashes with animals occurred on Colorado roads. From 2010-2025, these tragic accidents resulted in 52 motorist fatalities and over 400 serious injuries. The total estimated annual cost of wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado is over $300 million. Wildlife crossings have been shown to reduce these collisions by more than 90 percent.