ORS 366.162: Prevention of wildlife-vehicle collisions; biennial report.

(1) The Department of Transportation shall report biennially regarding the status of the program required under ORS 366.161 to interim or regular Senate and House committees relating to natural resources in the manner provided by ORS 192.245. (2) The report must include, but not be limited to: (a) Information concerning the number and types of wildlife corridor infrastructure projects that have been established, studied or planned; (b) A description of a timeline for implementing the proposed and prioritized wildlife corridor infrastructure projects; (c) An estimate of the costs and funding sources for proposed and prioritized wildlife corridor infrastructure projects; (d) A description of actions the department has taken to secure funding for the program, including from all relevant federal grant opportunities and other public and private funding sources; (e) A strategy for ongoing funding for the program, including department plans to: (A) Ensure the existence of one or more dedicated funding sources that meet program needs; and (B) Secure federal competitive grants; (f) A description of the realized or expected effects of established, studied or planned wildlife corridor infrastructure projects on the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions; and (g) A description of efforts and successes of the advisory group described in section 2, chapter 42, Oregon Laws 2025, including efforts and successes related to: (A) Moneys directed to projects through public-private funding partnerships; (B) Community and stakeholder engagement; and (C) Addressing priority areas, as described in ORS 366.161 (1). [2019 c.272 §5; 2025 c.42 §4] (2) The report must include, but not be limited to: (a) Information concerning the number and types of wildlife corridor infrastructure projects that have been established, studied or planned; (b) A description of a timeline for implementing the proposed and prioritized wildlife corridor infrastructure projects; (c) An estimate of the costs and funding sources for proposed and prioritized wildlife corridor infrastructure projects; (d) A description of actions the department has taken to secure funding for the program, including from all relevant federal grant opportunities and other public and private funding sources; (e) A strategy for ongoing funding for the program, including department plans to: (A) Ensure the existence of one or more dedicated funding sources that meet program needs; and (B) Secure federal competitive grants; and (f) A description of the realized or expected effects of established, studied or planned wildlife corridor infrastructure projects on the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Sec. 2. (1) To inform the program described in ORS 366.161, the Department of Transportation and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife shall enter into a joint memorandum of understanding under which the agencies shall establish an advisory group for: (a) Collaborating on the goals of the program; (b) Coordinating the capacity, resources and fundraising opportunities and assistance; (c) Sharing relevant science; (d) Coordinating community outreach; and (e) Assisting with identifying priority areas and priority projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle conflicts and improve habitat connectivity. (2) The memorandum of understanding may designate a willing nongovernmental entity to serve as a neutral facilitator of the advisory group. (3) The advisory group shall: (a) Consist of diverse participants, such as participants from federal, state and local governments, academia and nonprofit organizations, as well as participants with biology and engineering backgrounds. (b) Meet on a regular basis, and at least once annually through December 31, 2033. (4) The Department of Transportation shall make available on a department website the materials from meetings of the advisory group and any recommendations from the advisory group. [2025 c.42 §2] Sec. 3. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2035. [2025 c.42 §3]