Sponsors (6)
The bill provides reliable, targeted Federal funding to accelerate wildlife crossings—especially for rural and tribal communities—while modestly reducing project dollars for administration and increasing Highway Trust Fund outlays that could pressure other transportation priorities.
State and local governments and nonprofits receive predictable, dedicated funding of $100M per year (FY2027–FY2031) for wildlife crossings, enabling multi-year planning and more projects.
Rural and small communities can get grants covering up to 90% of wildlife crossing project costs, substantially lowering local funding burdens for safety and habitat projects.
The Secretary can waive the non‑Federal match in cases of inability to pay or severe hardship, allowing some projects to receive 100% Federal funding and improving access for financially constrained communities.
Authorizing $100M per year increases Highway Trust Fund outlays and could divert resources or pressure funding for other road or transit priorities paid from the Trust Fund.
Prioritizing higher Federal shares for targeted (rural/underserved) communities may shift competitive dynamics and reduce the amount of matching grant funding available to projects in non‑designated areas.
Using up to 0.5% of annual program funds for administration reduces the total dollars available for projects by that percentage.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Provides $100M/year for FY2027–FY2031 to make the wildlife crossings program permanent, raises federal cost‑share for small/rural/disadvantaged areas, and funds tribal assistance and administration.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Angela Deneece Alsobrooks · Last progress December 17, 2025
Provides $100 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account) for a wildlife crossings grant program for FY2027–FY2031, available until expended. It removes the program’s “pilot” label to make it permanent, raises the Federal cost share (to 90% for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities, with a Secretary-authorized waiver to 100% for demonstrated hardship), and authorizes small set-asides for tribal technical assistance and program administration.