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119-s-3503119th Congress

Wildlife Road Crossing Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Stable federal funding and stronger tribal access for wildlife road crossings. This bill would reauthorize and expand the wildlife crossings program and would change rules so tribal projects get priority and the program is no longer labeled a pilot.

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  • Eligible Indian Tribes would receive a 100 percent Federal share for grants, making tribal crossing projects fully federally funded.
  • Tribal technical assistance would get a dedicated stream equal to up to 0.5 percent of annual program funds to help Tribes apply, get support, and shorten the time from project selection to obligating funds.
  • The program would be restyled as a permanent "Wildlife crossings program" and the Secretary could retain up to 0.5 percent of program funds each year to review applications, obligate grants, and run the program.

*Authorizes $200 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with those amounts available until expended.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Full federal pay for Tribal projects

If enacted, the bill would set the Federal share for any wildlife crossings grant to an eligible Indian Tribe at 100% of project cost. That would remove the requirement for Tribes to provide non‑Federal matching funds for those grants.

More funding for wildlife crossings

If enacted, the bill would authorize $200 million a year for the wildlife crossings program for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031. Money would come from the Highway Trust Fund, not the Mass Transit Account, and would be available until spent. The Transportation Secretary would be allowed to keep up to 0.5% each year to run the grant program. The Secretary would also have up to 0.5% each year to give application and technical help to eligible Indian Tribes, directly or by contract.

Make wildlife crossings permanent

If enacted, the bill would remove the word "pilot" from the wildlife crossings law and rename some subsections. It would insert new subsections after subsection (g) and redesignate certain later subsections. This would make the program's statutory status permanent rather than a pilot.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 12/16/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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