CA SB145

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to purchase and transfer environmental mitigation property to governmental and nonprofit entities to offset environmental impacts from state highway projects, with funding provided through endowments or agreements.

Requires applicants to provide an endowment for long-term habitat maintenance on or around habitat connectivity and wildlife corridor structures on state highways, presuming State Highway System Management Plan funding covers only the structure itself.

Exempts the department from standard bidding requirements when purchasing environmental mitigation credits from mitigation banks, conservation banks, in-lieu fee programs, or other providers, and authorizes cooperative agreements to manage endowments for mitigation property.

Requires the department to ensure construction of three wildlife crossings over Interstate 15 if an intercity passenger rail project is built within the specified segment, authorizing the department to solicit and negotiate agreements with rail entities and obtain federal grant funding for construction.

Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature from July 1, 2025 through July 1, 2033 on endowments, mitigation properties, agreements entered, and implementation barriers; most provisions sunset December 31, 2033.