Governor Newsom Signs Senator Cortese’s SB 1250 to Improve Road Safety and Protect Wildlife

SACRAMENTO, CA — California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) today announced that Governor Newsom signed his Senate Bill 1250 into law, legislation to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve wildlife connectivity across California.

The measure establishes a statewide framework by requiring Caltrans to include wildlife connectivity corridors and needs into its infrastructure project planning. This includes wildlife crossings, culverts, habitat corridors, and fencing that will help habitat connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. It will also require the California Transportation Commission to adopt targets and performance measures for wildlife connectivity assets on the state highway system. 

“Too many Californians have paid the price when wildlife and vehicles collide resulting in lives lost, families devastated, and animals killed. We have the knowledge and technology to prevent these tragedies, and we cannot afford to keep treating them as inevitable. SB 1250 puts prevention first. It means building safer roads, protecting wildlife corridors, and making sure California’s transportation system works for both people and the natural environment,” said Senator Cortese. 

California experiences thousands of wildlife-vehicle collisions annually, creating significant safety risks, costly vehicle damage, and devastating impacts on wildlife populations. These collisions are especially prevalent in areas where major transportation routes intersect with important wildlife movement corridors.

“The Nature Conservancy is deeply grateful for Senator Cortese’s leadership on SB 1250, which supports better planning and agency coordination for wildlife connectivity. This will translate to increased driver safety, less traffic congestion, and better outcomes for California wildlife. It is a win-win for California,” said Michael Jarred, Associate Director of The Nature Conservancy.

As Chair of the California Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Cortese has prioritized transportation policies that improve safety, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and prepare California's transportation network for the future. SB 1250 reflects that commitment by addressing a safety challenge at the intersection of transportation, conservation, and climate resilience.

Senator Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San José and much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley. Visit Senator Cortese’s website at https://sd15.senate.ca.gov. View all Press Releases at https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/press-releases. 

Select the Google Translation Feature on the website for translations in Spanish, Vietnamese, and 12 other languages. Seleccione la función de traducción de Google en el sitio web para obtener traducciones al español, vietnamita y otros 12 idiomas. Hãy chọn tính năng Dịch của Google trên trang web để dịch sang tiếng Tây Ban Nha, tiếng Việt và 12 ngôn ngữ khác.

Contact:

Mario B. Lopez | Communications Director

Office of Senator Dave Cortese | District 15

Phone: 408-545-8205 | Email: mario.lopez@sen.ca.gov

For Scheduling Media Requests: 

Natasha Waxman, Executive Assistant 

Office of Senator Dave Cortese | District 15 

Email: Natasha.waxman@sen.ca.gov###