SB 965 Summary

• Establishes green infrastructure objectives and policies for transportation systems to minimize stormwater runoff, reduce urban heat island effect, provide cooler shaded transit, and reduce carbon emissions.

• Requires transportation planning to incorporate life design objectives including visual and sound barriers between vehicles and pedestrians, standardized paint schemes for exposed infrastructure, and ANSI A300 standards for tree care and maintenance.

• Defines "green infrastructure" as plant, tree, or soil systems with at least 20-year life spans designed to reduce carbon footprints, enhance shade, reduce temperatures, and manage stormwater.

• Establishes a green transportation infrastructure task force consisting of legislative appointees, state agency representatives, university representatives, and a certified arborist to develop best practices for green transportation infrastructure design and implementation.

• Task force shall submit findings and recommendations to the legislature by twenty days prior to regular sessions in 2024 and 2025, and dissolves on June 30, 2025; takes effect July 1, 2050 (sections 2-3 effective June 30, 2052).