SB 635

Wildlife - Protections and Highway Crossings

Sponsor: Karen Lewis Young (District 3)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Natural Resources - GenerallyStatus: First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Maryland Connectivity Coalition to foster collaboration among State and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders for the purpose of protecting endangered wildlife from habitat fragmentation; requiring the State Highway Administration to have final decision-making authority regarding decisions related to placement, funding, or design of wildlife crossings; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Brown, Jim	Audubon Mid-Atlantic	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dunlap, Julie	Audubon Society of Central Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Sarah Joanlobbyist	Bryson F. Popham, P.A.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Conway, Mark	Chesapeake Conservancy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Russell, Karen	Climate Change Working Group of Frederick County	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Volodin, Staceylobbyist	Humane World for Animals	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson, Andrew	Maryland Department of Planning	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schwarz, Kurt	Maryland Ornithological Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Radov, Lisa	Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dickter, Natalie	N/A	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ostdahl, Maggielobbyist	National Aquarium	Written (PDF)
FAV	Southerland, Mark	Safe Skies Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilpers, Michael	Sierra Club MD Chapter	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	miles, williamlobbyist	self employed	Oral
FAV	Broadman, Dorothy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kerr, Cait	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Lewis Young, Senator Lewis Younglegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Street, Debra	Individual	Position only
FAV	boos, Mistylobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FWA	Wilson, Emily	Department of Natural Resources	Written (PDF)
FWA	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lewis Young, Senator Karen	Senator Karen Lewis Young	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Audubon Mid-AtlanticFAV 1

Audubon Society of Central MarylandFAV 1

Bryson F. Popham, P.A.FAV 1

Chesapeake ConservancyFAV 1

Climate Change Working Group of Frederick CountyFAV 1

Department of Natural ResourcesFWA 1

Humane World for AnimalsFAV 1

Maryland Department of PlanningFAV 1

Maryland Department of TransportationFWA 1

Maryland Ornithological SocietyFAV 1

Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.FAV 1

N/AFAV 1

National AquariumFAV 1

Safe Skies MarylandFAV 1

self employedFAV 1

Senator Karen Lewis YoungFWA 1

Sierra Club MD ChapterFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVSmith, Sarah JoanBryson F. Popham, P.A.Registered for: Bryson F. Popham P.A.; Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Baltimore (BOMA); Insurance Agents and Brokers of Maryland (IAB); Maryland Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (MAMIC); Maryland Defense Research Coalition (MDR-C); National Association of Benefits Insurance Professionals (NABIP MD)…

FAVVolodin, StaceyHumane World for AnimalsRegistered for: Humane World for Animals

FAVOstdahl, MaggieNational AquariumRegistered for: National Aquarium

FAVmiles, williamself employedRegistered for: Association of Forest Industries, Inc.; Herschell Claggett, Jr.; Hunters of Maryland; Goose Chase Farm, LLC…

FAVboos, MistyRegistered for: Wildlands Network