# 119-s-3409: Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act

119-s-3409, Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT); status in_committee (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3409
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3409
- Congress: 119
- Title: Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-12-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Water Resources Development
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**This bill would establish federal ownership and funding** of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel to secure pallid sturgeon and other native fish while protecting local irrigation operations from financial or operational burdens. - Local irrigation operators and the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District would be barred from owning, operating, maintaining, or paying for the 2.1-mile bypass and would not be required to perform or fund Endangered Species Act recovery actions tied to the channel. - The Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, would retain sole ownership, control, and financial responsibility, and the bill would nullify prior or conflicting transfers or cost-sharing arrangements. It would authorize $1.0 million each year starting in fiscal year 2026 for operations, repairs, engineering evaluations, upgrades, and adaptive management. - Federal agencies would keep exclusive responsibility for pallid sturgeon recovery and must coordinate with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Enforcement would use federal court jurisdiction in Montana, private suits against local entities would be limited, and the Secretary must report biennially to relevant Congressional committees. *Would increase federal spending by about $1.0 million annually beginning in FY2026 to fund channel operation, repairs, and adaptive management.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT), 2026-01-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Annual federal funds for fish channel: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would authorize $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year after. The money would pay to run, inspect, repair, and upgrade the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel. The Secretary of the Interior would manage the funds. The bill would not let the Secretary give those…
- Court access for irrigation district disputes: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would let the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District, the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, and affected stakeholders sue in U.S. District Court if the Secretary tries to shift channel costs or duties to non‑Federal parties. The United States District Court for the District…
- Federal ownership, no local cost burden: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to keep full ownership and control of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel forever. The Secretary would be solely responsible for operating, maintaining, repairing, modifying, and funding the channel. The bill would bar any Feder…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-3409 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3409)

## Related
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-4378: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4378)
- [119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3492)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3409 (as of 2026-09-10).