The bill S.38, known as the Habitat Corridor Conservation Stamp Act, introduced by Senator White, seeks to establish a program under the Secretary of Natural Resources to fund the creation and maintenance of habitat corridors and wildlife crossings in Vermont. It emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and landscape connectivity in light of climate change and habitat fragmentation. Key provisions include the establishment of a Habitat Corridor Conservation Special Fund, financed through the sale of Habitat Corridor Conservation Stamps and other sources, and the development of a conservation plan by December 31, 2028, aimed at enhancing ecological resilience and protecting wildlife movement.

Additionally, the bill introduces measures to protect wildlife, including prohibiting the taking of wildlife within designated wildlife crossings and establishing penalties for harming wildlife or damaging crossings. It also creates a Habitat Corridor Conservation Stamp credit to provide tax incentives for residents who purchase these stamps. The bill allocates $25,000 for public education on habitat corridors and $125,000 for land inventory and conservation planning, with provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 32-5813