Coloradans Applaud Senate Passage of Wildlife Collision Prevention Act

Bill that will save lives and money now heads to the House

[DENVER, April 13, 2026] – The Colorado State Senate today passed the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act (SB26-141), a crucial measure to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across the state. Introduced by Senator Dylan Roberts (D, SD-8), Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson (R, SD-6), Speaker Julie McCluskie (D, HD-13), and Representative Rick Taggart (R, HD-55), the legislation passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the State House of Representatives.

“This a great step toward reducing human-animal collisions and keeping everyone that travels our state safe. I am excited to build upon our great work across Colorado, including the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Crossing, which is the largest in North America. These efforts can reduce these crashes by more than 90%, saving lives and money, and will expand on our success to build more infrastructure across Colorado to keep human and animal travelers safe,” said Governor Jared Polis.

Vehicle collisions with wildlife are a significant concern in Colorado, costing lives, damaging property, and placing financial burdens on families. According to roadkill datafrom the Colorado State Patrol, approximately 7,500 crashes with animals occurred on roads across the state in 2024 alone. (The true number could be 67% higher due to underreporting.) From 2010-24, these tragic accidents resulted in 48 motorist fatalities and 5,152 injuries.

“We are excited to give Colorado drivers the opportunity to build the Collision Prevention Fund and ensure that our state is strongly investing in wildlife crossing and safety infrastructure – a proven way to prevent collisions, stop human and animal deaths, and save drivers money,” said State Senator Dylan Roberts. “There’s very little that we can do in government that is over 90% effective – but wildlife crossings are that rare solution.”

State transportation officials nationwide have identified a lack of funding as the primary barrier to building wildlife crossing structures and safer transportation infrastructure for drivers and other road users. The bipartisan legislation introduced today addresses that problem in Colorado by establishing a new “Collision Prevention Fund” with dedicated, annual funding for wildlife crossing projects, including conservation of habitat on either side of the crossings to ensure that animals can continue to access them in perpetuity. This new account will be funded by an optional $5 fee that Colorado residents can voluntarily choose to pay during the vehicle registration process. These dollars can also be used for federal grant match requirements, allowing Colorado taxpayers dollars to be leveraged for a greater return on this initial investment.

Senate Minority Leader, Cleave Simpson, added, “In rural Colorado, our highways are lifelines for our communities, but they’re also dangerous where drivers can hit our precious wildlife, often resulting in injury or death. These collisions are dangerous, costly, and far too common. Investing in wildlife crossings is a practical infrastructure solution that keeps animals off the road and people safer behind the wheel. This bill is about protecting rural drivers, supporting our local economies, and making smart investments in the infrastructure that helps people get home safely to their families.”

Wildlife crossing structures – such as overpasses or underpasses that allow animals to safely cross roads – have proven to yield a high return on investment by significantly reducing collision rates. For instance, a series of wildlife crossings on State Highway 9 near Kremmling, Colorado reduced crashes with wildlife by 92%. Across the political spectrum, 87% of Coloradans support building wildlife crossings, according to recent polling.

“Wildlife collisions are very common in the High Country, putting drivers and Colorado’s wildlife at risk of dangerous accidents and driving up insurance costs,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie. “Wildlife crossings have shown incredible success at preventing these collisions, with the Kremmling crossing reducing collisions by 92 percent. The legislation that will move to the House will help fund new wildlife crossings to keep drivers safe, save Coloradans money on car insurance costs and protect Colorado’s wildlife.”

In addition to saving lives, these projects will reduce insurance claims and minimize costly road closures. According to CDOT, every hour the I-70 mountain corridor is closed costs the surrounding communities up to $2 million in lost economic activity. Relatedly, a diverse coalition of interests is working with CDOT to create three new wildlife crossings on I-70 at East Vail Pass that would facilitate safe passage for wildlife – including threatened Canada lynx – in Colorado’s central mountains.

“Too many Coloradans on the Western Slope know the dangers and costs that come with wildlife vehicle collisions on our highways. By making smart, targeted investments in wildlife crossings, we can protect drivers, reduce costly crashes, and stretch our state dollars further by bringing more federal funding to Colorado. These projects have a proven track record of cutting collisions dramatically while keeping our iconic wildlife moving safely across the landscape. It’s a practical, bipartisan solution that saves lives, protects property, and delivers real value for Coloradans,” added Representative Rick Taggart.