Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
Introduced
Summary
Nonlethal strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflict are the focus of a new program this bill would create inside the Department of Agriculture. It would coordinate projects, share best practices, and support training and demonstrations to cut livestock depredation and damage to farms and infrastructure.
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- Landowners, agricultural producers, livestock owners, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations would be eligible for assistance to deploy nonlethal tools, receive training, and take part in demonstration projects to reduce wildlife damage and predator depredation.
- The Department of Agriculture would subsume the existing Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Nonlethal Initiative into the new program, prioritize States where that Initiative operates, and carry out research, monitoring, and adaptive management to evaluate and improve nonlethal methods.
- Authorizes $20.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, allows up to 10 percent of each year for research, and requires an annual report to Congress on fund use, species affected, and strategy effectiveness.
*Would authorize $20.0 million per year for FY2027–2031, totaling $100.0 million and increasing federal spending over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More nonlethal help for farmers
This bill would create a Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Program at the Department of Agriculture. The program would fold the APHIS Nonlethal Initiative into the new program and prioritize States where that Initiative operated when the law took effect. The Secretary would be authorized to give assistance, training, and demonstration projects to landowners, agricultural producers, Indian Tribes, and nonprofits to reduce wildlife damage and livestock depredation. The bill would authorize $20,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, and not more than 10 percent of each year’s amount would be used for research. The Secretary would also assist States, on request, to develop or update State-level plans and would send Congress an annual report on fund use, species affected, and strategy effectiveness.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov