Action Alert- Urge the House Transportation Committee to Advance ESSB 5203

The Committee has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, February 18th for ESSB 5203- a critical next step for the wildlife safe-passages bill.

We need your voice to ensure this important public‑safety and conservation bill moves forward.

ESSB 5203 advances Washington’s Habitat Connectivity Action Plan, helping the state prioritize wildlife crossings, reduce dangerous wildlife–vehicle conflicts, and protect critical movement corridors.

This bill is built on proven results. Wildlife crossings on I-90 and U.S. 97 have reduced collisions by up to 90%, improving driver safety and saving taxpayer dollars. Statewide, deer and elk collisions cost Washington residents over $74 million each year in medical bills, vehicle damage, and emergency response.

The Senate has passed ESSB 5203. Now it’s headed to the House Transportation Committee for a hearing on February 18th, where it needs swift action to move forward before the legislative session ends.

Why This Bill Matters:

• Protecting habitat connectivity: Roads fragment habitat and interrupt seasonal movement, threatening herd health and resilience.
• Reducing collisions: Every collision is a loss of life, costly to drivers, and a strain on emergency resources.
• Leveraging proven solutions: The bill prioritizes wildlife crossings where they have the greatest impact, using proven methods that already work on I-90 and U.S. 97.
• Strengthening collaboration: ESSB 5203 ensures WDFW and WSDOT coordinate effectively, aligning agency efforts to maximize results.

Two opportunities to support this bill NOW

• Sign in “pro” on the House Transportation Committee hearing page:

• Start with the below template, and tailor it with your perspective in a written testimony:

Dear Chair Fey, Vice Chairs, Ranking Members, and members of the House Transportation Committee,

I am writing to urge you to advance ESSB 5203, the wildlife safe passage bill, through the House Transportation Committee at the Public Hearing on February 18, 2026.

ESSB 5203 improves public safety by reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions while saving Washington residents money. Deer and elk collisions alone cost the state over $74 million each year in medical bills, vehicle repairs, emergency response, and lost work time. While infrastructure is essential to our communities, it also fragments habitats and impacts biodiversity across the state. We know these solutions work. The wildlife crossings on I-90 and U.S. 97, implemented with the support from the Legislature, have each reduced collisions by up to 90%, making our highways safer for drivers while protecting wildlife and critical movement corridors.

ESSB 5203 builds on proven results by advancing Washington’s Habitat Connectivity Action Plan and improving coordination between WSDOT and WDFW to prioritize wildlife crossings where they are most needed. As climate change shifts wildlife ranges, connected landscapes are critical for public safety and ecological resilience. Passing ESSB 5203 this session will deliver immediate benefits for both wildlife and people. 

Thank you for your leadership and for supporting public safety and wildlife conservation for Washington.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, ZIP]