Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate $100,000 annually (for fiscal years 2026-2030) from existing funds to award grants for pilot projects testing drone use in managing wild horses and burros. Grants must go to organizations with drone expertise and a focus on equine welfare, specifically for humane gathering, fertility control, and herd-health efforts. All funded projects must report results to Congress and the public within 180 days of completion, and grantees must also submit evaluations of drone applications for ranching and environmental stewardship to the House Agriculture Committee. The bill aims to explore practical, humane applications of drone technology in wildlife management under the existing Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.