Virginia has taken an important step towards safer roads. The Virginia House Appropriations Subcommittee: Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources and full House Appropriations Committee passed HB 597, legislation that creates the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to support wildlife crossings and corridor infrastructure across the Commonwealth. Next the bill will go before the full House of Delegates for three readings.

Every year, thousands of Virginia drivers collide with wildlife, causing devastating injuries and deaths and costing millions of dollars in property damage and emergency services. Virginia is among the top ten states for wildlife-vehicle collisions, yet properly designed crossings can reduce collisions by up to 96%.
With House passage, Virginia moves closer to turning planning into implementation.

HB 597: Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund
HB 597 establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund, a dedicated funding source to support projects that protect and restore wildlife movement across roads and waterways. The fund would help state agencies implement Virginia’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and provide grants for projects that reduce collisions, conserve habitat, and save communities money on emergency response and property damage.

Virginians could choose to donate through electronic DMV transactions or on their state income tax returns, along with private donations. These dollars could also unlock federal grant funding by providing state match funds. Data from other states like Wyoming and Maryland show the public is willing to donate specifically for the purpose of advancing wildlife crossings. Even in Virginia, DMV and income tax filing donations are currently successful for raising funds for many other great causes!

Why Wildlife Crossings Matter
Wildlife crossings are one of the most effective tools available to reduce dangerous collisions. Just one properly sited underpass combined with fencing can dramatically reduce crashes while restoring access to critical habitat.

These projects also deliver broader benefits. Wildlife crossings can improve stream connectivity for fish and aquatic organisms, support flood resilience by allowing greater water flow during storms and strengthen Virginia’s ability to adapt to climate change and biodiversity loss.

“If you drive on a Virginia highway, these wildlife corridor bills are for you,” said Delegate Simonds, HB597 Sponsor. “These bills are about bringing government agencies together and getting people out of their silos to improve driver safety and protect wildlife. The return on investment for wildlife corridor projects is incredibly high and we need everyone, from state planners to VDOT contractors, to be thinking about how can we reduce vehicle wildlife collisions. Just one underpass combined with fencing can reduce crashes by 96%.”

United Support Across Virginia
HB 597 has earned strong support from conservation organizations, outdoor groups, scientists, medical professionals, and community leaders across the state.

Wildlife crossings save lives and reduce taxpayer costs. Medical professionals have highlighted the human toll of wildlife-vehicle crashes, while conservation groups stress the urgency of reconnecting fragmented habitats before losses become irreversible.

Wild Virginia’s Habitat Connectivity Program Director Trapper Fowler explains, “This bill advances Virginia’s progress towards safer roads for motorists and wildlife; wildlife crossings are common-sense approaches that will benefit everyone from hunters and anglers to the daily commuter. Wildlife and aquatic organisms are depending on us to maintain or reconnect their habitats through crossings and corridor connectivity projects; HB597 enables us to deliver!”

What’s Next
If passed in the full House, HB 597 would advance to the Senate for consideration.
This is an important milestone, but continued public engagement will help ensure the bill becomes law and that Virginia continues advancing practical, cost-effective solutions that protect drivers, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Now is the time to contact your Delegate ahead of the full House vote and start preparing to contact your Senator, you can find your representatives here.

Wild Virginia, and our wildlife, thank you for your support and energy to help advance this important bill!

^{We are grateful to the many partners who helped move this effort forward, including those pictured above Misty Boos (Wildlands Network), Connor Ransom (Environment Virginia), and Wild Virginia’s Habitat Connectivity Director Trapper Fowler with Chief Patron Delegate Shelly Simonds.}