Sponsors (4)
The bill channels federal coordination, mapping, and grant funding to improve wildlife connectivity and support tribes and local partners—but it incurs recurring taxpayer costs, administrative burdens, potential federal-state tensions, and limits on some land and resource uses that may harm local economies and smaller landowners.
State, Tribal, local governments, nonprofits, and rural and coastal communities will get better-connected land and seascape habitat so native plants and animals can migrate, disperse, exchange genes, and adapt to climate change.
Private landowners, tribes, local governments, and rural/agricultural communities can receive grants and technical support to restore and connect habitats, creating stewardship jobs and economic opportunities tied to hunting, tourism, and working lands.
Federal, state, tribal, and local agencies (and researchers/NGOs) gain consistent definitions, shared maps, a centralized database, and regular reporting to improve planning, reduce legal ambiguity, and increase transparency and accountability in corridor decisions.
Taxpayers will face new recurring federal spending (authorized totals imply roughly $135M+ per year starting FY2026) to fund grants, mapping, and program operations.
Rural communities, resource workers, and local economies near designated corridors may lose or have restricted access to extractive and development uses (mining, leasing, some infrastructure), reducing jobs and local revenues and imposing mitigation costs on projects.
Federal, state, local agencies and grant recipients will face substantial administrative, planning, consultation, and reporting burdens that can divert staff time and funds from other priorities and slow on-the-ground action.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a National Wildlife Corridor System, USGS connectivity mapping and research, and a $75M/year grant program to restore and protect habitat connectivity, with other agency funding.
Creates a National Wildlife Corridor System and related programs to map, plan, restore, and protect habitat connections that let native fish, wildlife, and plants move, adapt, and exchange genes. It directs the Interior Department (through USFWS and USGS) to produce public connectivity maps and science, sets up a multi‑agency Coordinating Committee, allows States/Tribes/localities/NGOs to nominate federal lands and waters as corridors, and funds a competitive grant program for non‑Federal lands. Authorizes annual funding beginning FY2026 for: mapping and research ($5M to USGS), agency coordination and corridor implementation across several departments (about $60M total split among DOI, DOT, USDA, DOC, and DOD), and a $75M-per-year grant program for habitat connectivity on non‑Federal lands (with at least 10% for big-game migration projects). The bill sets deadlines for mapping reports, a Federal strategy, nomination decisions, and agency planning updates, and requires protections for sensitive location data.
Introduced April 22, 2026 by Donald Sternoff Beyer · Last progress April 22, 2026