Sponsors (8)
Creates a permanent, well‑funded wildlife crossings program that expands project delivery (including full-cost tribal grants and technical support) to reduce wildlife‑vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, while increasing federal spending and locking in program structure with small administrative set‑asides.
Rural communities and local governments will get stable, dedicated funding: establishes a permanent Wildlife Crossings Program with $100M/year (FY2026–2031) to fund animal‑vehicle collision mitigation and habitat connectivity projects.
Tribal governments and residents on tribal lands can access grants that cover 100% of eligible wildlife crossing project costs, removing a major local financial barrier and supporting tribal sovereignty over infrastructure.
Unobligated program funds can remain available until expended, increasing the likelihood authorized money will be used for projects rather than lapsing.
Taxpayers may face higher federal spending or crowding out of other discretionary transportation priorities because the bill authorizes $100M per year.
Making the program permanent reduces opportunities to reevaluate or pilot alternative program designs before full expansion, which could lock in less‑optimal approaches and limit future flexibility.
The Secretary may retain up to 0.5% of program funds for administration, slightly reducing the pool available for on‑the‑ground projects.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes the wildlife crossings pilot permanent and authorizes $100M/year for FY2026–2031, adds tribal 100% cost share and technical assistance set‑asides.
Official title: To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the wildlife crossings program.
Introduced November 18, 2025 by Donald Sternoff Beyer · Last progress November 18, 2025
Makes the wildlife crossings pilot program permanent and funds it at $100 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031. The bill replaces “pilot” language in the highway code with “Program,” raises tribal grant cost-share to 100%, creates tribal technical assistance funding, allows the Secretary to retain small administrative set‑asides, and makes unobligated funds available until expended.