Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

Reauthorizes and updates a regional marine conservation initiative for the Northwest Straits by defining the Commission’s membership, duties, coordination roles, and reporting rules, and by setting federal funding. It directs $10,000,000 per year in authorized funding for fiscal years 2026–2031 (and leaves later-year funding unspecified), requires annual reports with measurable benchmarks, allows the Commission to accept donations, and authorizes NOAA and the Under Secretary to provide technical and contractual support (including potential contracting with the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve unless the Governor of Washington objects).

The measure focuses on continuing and strengthening coordinated local, state, tribal, and federal efforts for habitat protection, monitoring, and community-based marine conservation in the Northwest Straits region while establishing oversight, reporting, and funding pathways for the Commission’s work.