Senate committee backs $5 opt‑in Keep Colorado Wild Pass to fund wildlife crossings

The Senate Finance Committee advanced SB 141 after bipartisan testimony supporting a voluntary $5 opt‑out add‑on at vehicle registration to fund wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity.

Sponsor Senator Roberts described the proposed "Keep Colorado Wild Pass" as an optional $5 addition to vehicle registration that would create a collision‑prevention fund split 75% to the CDOT bridge and tunnel enterprise and 25% to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for land acquisition and connectivity. "Voluntarily adding $5 to my Keep Colorado Wild Pass to build and maintain more wildlife passages over and under highways is a small price to pay to save a life," Patricia McLaughlin of the Sierra Club said in testimony.

Witnesses included conservation groups, county commissioners and victims of wildlife collisions. Mary Rodriguez of Castle Rock delivered emotional testimony about a September 29, 2024 crash in which an elk struck her parents' vehicle; she said her father died in the collision and urged lawmakers to provide funding for mitigation in that corridor.

Sponsors adopted two amendments to address implementation: L003 ensures county clerks receive educational materials in advance of implementation, and L004 clarifies procurement language to encourage preference for Colorado contractors while keeping CDOT flexibility; both were adopted after discussion with county clerks and CDOT staff.

Supporters and local officials emphasized that wildlife crossings have demonstrated large collision reductions in priority locations and can leverage federal matching funds. Committee members noted the bill is voluntary; the fee is optional and county clerks requested clear outreach materials before the program begins.

The committee voted to refer SB 141 to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation.