Sponsors (10)
The bill prioritizes reducing near-term poisoning risks to people, pets, and nontarget wildlife by restricting and removing M–44 devices, but it shifts costs and operational burdens onto ranchers, state/local agencies, and taxpayers and may complicate predator-management efforts.
People who recreate, work, or live near public lands (including children and family pets) will face a substantially lower risk of accidental cyanide poisoning because deployed M–44 devices would be removed and use restricted.
Endangered species and nontarget wildlife are likely to experience fewer fatalities and unintended exposures if M–44 deployment is limited or devices are removed.
Federal, state, and local public-health and land-management oversight may improve because the bill prompts regulatory review, clearer definitions (e.g., 'M–44 device', 'public land'), and clearer enforcement boundaries for agencies.
Ranchers and livestock owners will lose a widely used predator-control tool and likely face higher costs for alternative control measures and potential increases in livestock losses.
State and county agencies (and ultimately taxpayers) will incur immediate operational, labor, and replacement-program costs to locate, remove, and, if needed, replace M–44 devices within the short deadline.
The tight 30‑day removal deadline and possible lack of device location records could create enforcement and compliance challenges, incomplete removals, and legal disputes for agencies tasked with implementation.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Bans the placement and use of M–44 sodium cyanide ejector devices on federal public lands and requires removal within 30 days of enactment.
Bans the placement or use of M–44 cyanide ejector devices on public lands and requires federal, State, and county public‑land management agencies to remove any such devices within 30 days of enactment. The law defines M–44 devices and lists which federal land management agencies count as "public land." The bill rests on findings that sodium cyanide used in these devices is highly toxic, frequently injures or kills nontarget people and animals (including family pets and endangered species), and has limited effectiveness at hitting intended targets.
Official title: Prohibit the use of M-44 devices, commonly known as "cyanide bombs", on public land, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 26, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress June 26, 2025