Sponsors (6)
The bill directs dedicated federal funding to build wildlife crossings that improve road safety and habitat connectivity—particularly benefiting rural and Tribal communities—while increasing demands on the Highway Trust Fund and shifting some cost and oversight dynamics away from local stakeholders.
Drivers and rural communities will see safer roads and fewer vehicle-wildlife collisions because the bill authorizes $100 million per year (FY2027–FY2031) to expand wildlife crossings.
Rural, small, and disadvantaged communities and local governments can get up to 90–100% federal funding for wildlife crossing projects, lowering local cost barriers to building safety and habitat connectivity.
Tribal residents and state/local governments will have improved access to the program because the bill provides Tribal technical assistance funding and allows the Secretary to retain up to 0.5% for administration to support grant processing and oversight.
Taxpayers and state governments face increased pressure on the Highway Trust Fund because the program is financed from the Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account), which could reduce funds for other highway projects or accelerate fund depletion.
Federal taxpayers and local governments may bear more cost and see reduced local investment or oversight because some projects may receive up to 100% federal funding, lowering local cost-share contributions and incentives.
Taxpayers and state/local governments lose a small portion of construction funding because up to 1% of program funds (0.5% for Tribal technical assistance + 0.5% for administration) can be used for non-construction purposes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Angela Deneece Alsobrooks · Last progress December 17, 2025
Provides $100 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund for a wildlife crossings program for FY2027–FY2031 and makes the program permanent by removing the word “pilot” from the statute. Raises the federal cost-share to 90% for grants that benefit small, rural, or disadvantaged communities (with a hardship waiver up to 100%), and authorizes small set-asides (up to 0.5% each) for Tribal technical assistance and for program administration and grant processing.