Sponsors (4)
The bill directs sustained federal funding to build wildlife crossings—especially making projects accessible to tribes by covering full costs and providing technical support—reducing collisions and improving infrastructure, but it diverts $200M/year from the Highway Trust Fund and creates ongoing administrative set-asides and program expansion risks that reduce funds for other transportation priorities.
Rural communities, drivers, and transportation workers benefit from a dedicated $200 million per year (FY2027–FY2031) to build and maintain wildlife crossings, which should reduce vehicle–wildlife collisions, injuries, and associated economic costs.
Tribal governments and residents on tribal lands can receive wildlife-crossing grants with a 100% federal share, removing local cost burdens and making large projects more feasible for tribes.
Local governments and tribes benefit from funds being available until expended, allowing multi-year completion of large crossing projects without fiscal-year time pressure.
All taxpayers and other transportation projects are affected because $200 million per year is directed from the Highway Trust Fund, reducing available HTF balance for other highway or transit projects.
Local governments and tribes receive slightly less project funding because the Secretary may retain up to 0.5% annually for grant administration, reducing the share reaching projects each year.
Taxpayers could face expanded long-term federal obligations and less congressional oversight because removing the program's 'pilot' label may institutionalize and broaden the program without additional review.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Martin Heinrich · Last progress December 16, 2025
Creates a dedicated Wildlife Crossings Program fund and authorizes $200 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding the Mass Transit Account) for fiscal years 2027–2031, with the money available until spent. It amends the underlying highway law to provide tribal projects a 100% federal share, establishes small set-asides for tribal technical assistance and grant administration, and renumbers existing program subsections. The bill expands and streamlines how wildlife crossing projects are funded and administered, especially improving access and financial terms for Tribal governments while directing multi-year federal support for construction and related activities that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.