# 119-hr-3188: Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2025

119-hr-3188, Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3188
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3188
- Congress: 119
- Title: Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-05
- Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Environmental Protection
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Explicitly regulate and fund incidental take of migratory birds.** This bill would create a federal permit-and-fee system for incidental take, add civil-penalty authority, require research and reporting, and align Migratory Bird Treaty Act administration under the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. - Companies and project developers would need authorization to incidentally take migratory birds, pay program fees, and could face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for unauthorized take. - Conservation groups, researchers, and bird populations would get a dedicated Migratory Bird Recovery Fund funded by fees, penalties, donations and appropriations, a required research program, and biennial reports on a five-year cycle to Congress. The bill authorizes $10.0 million in annual appropriations to support these activities. - Federal regulators would be realigned to the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, must follow Director’s Order No. 225 while new rules are developed, and must provide notice and an opportunity for a hearing before assessing penalties. *This bill would authorize $10.0 million in annual appropriations for the incidental-take program, increasing federal spending for bird recovery and program administration.*

## Cosponsors (13)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-05-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2025-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Bird research and five-year reports: benefit, low. The Interior Department would set up a research program with universities, conservation groups, and industry. It would track bird numbers, study stressors, and test ways to reduce harm. The Secretary would report to Congress within five years and then every five years.
- New permits and fines for businesses harming birds: cost, low. Businesses and landowners would need authorization to incidentally harm migratory birds, nests, or eggs. The Interior Secretary could issue general permits and set rules. Until industry rules are issued, the agency would keep enforcing a 2021 Director’s Order. Without authorization, violators could…
- Permit fees and new Migratory Bird Fund: mixed, low. The Interior Secretary could charge fees to issue and run incidental-take permits. Money would fund permit administration and bird conservation, including species of concern. A Migratory Bird Recovery Fund in the Treasury would hold fees, some penalties, donations, and appropriations. Congress woul…
- Shifts bird law administration to Interior: mixed, low. The bill would define the “Secretary” as the Interior Secretary acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service Director. It would adopt the Higher Education Act definition of “institution of higher education.” It would align references in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act toward Interior staff.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3188 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3188)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3188 (as of 2026-09-21).