Environment (Conservation)

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2608: CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025

This bill amends the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to increase flexibility for farmers and ranchers. It creates continuous enrollment for wildlife habitat practices, allows emergency haying during droughts/floods under specific conditions (like D2 drought designation), expands cost-sharing for grazing infrastructure (fencing, water systems), and raises the rental payment limit from $50,000 to $125,000 per year. These changes directly affect CRP participants managing land for conservation, wildlife, and grazing. The bill focuses on practical adjustments to program rules without altering core conservation goals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends CRP to expand conservation enrollment, habitat practices, and funding, strengthening environmental protections through enhanced flexibility and incentives for land conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Tags Agriculture

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passed · United States · House Jun 4, 2026

HR 2860: Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025

HR 2860 reauthorizes the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative through 2032, continuing a program focused on protecting Puget Sound's marine ecosystem in Washington State. It maintains the existing Northwest Straits Advisory Commission (composed of local county representatives, Tribal governments, and state officials) and requires it to coordinate habitat restoration, monitor water quality, and collaborate with Tribal nations on conservation efforts. The bill authorizes $10 million annually (2026-2031) for the Commission to carry out its duties, including developing science-based restoration plans and reporting progress on benchmarks like habitat protection and water quality. It emphasizes collaboration with local communities, Tribal governments, and federal agencies like NOAA, without granting regulatory authority.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReauthorizes marine conservation program with $10M funding for habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, and Tribal collaboration to protect Puget Sound ecosystem.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2025

HR 986: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025

HR 986 expands the boundaries of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont to include the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion, surrounding buildings, part of Mt. Tom, Billings Farm and Museum, and the King Farm (divided between historic and protection zones). It clarifies land acquisition rules for the King Farm area, requiring access rights for the park and allowing acquired land to be used for agriculture, forestry, conservation, and educational activities. The bill also establishes the National Park Service Stewardship Institute at the park to promote conservation workshops, research, and community engagement. These changes directly affect park management, land use policies, and operations at the King Farm and adjacent areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands protected park boundaries and explicitly permits conservation, forestry, and educational land uses, directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Parks & Recreation

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in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1780: Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025

This bill establishes the Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program, providing federal funding to eligible entities like state/local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and universities. It directs grants toward projects preventing invasive species spread, addressing climate impacts on native habitats, restoring species populations, and increasing public engagement in conservation. The program requires 75% federal funding (with 100% possible for specific projects) and mandates that at least 5% of annual funds support projects led by Native Hawaiian organizations or focused on youth workforce development. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for 10 years, with funds supplementing (not replacing) existing conservation efforts in Hawaii.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes federal grants for native species conservation, habitat restoration, and climate impact mitigation, directly advancing environmental protection through funding and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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signed · United States · House Nov 25, 2025

HR 2316: Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025

This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to delay when interest earned on the Federal aid to wildlife restoration fund becomes available for apportionment to states. Specifically, it changes the effective date from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2033, meaning states will not receive this interest for wildlife conservation funding until 2033. The bill directly affects state wildlife conservation programs that rely on these federal funds for projects like habitat restoration. The title "Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act" does not reflect the bill's actual focus, which is a procedural change to fund timing rather than new conservation measures.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill delays wildlife conservation funding until 2033, restricting immediate state funding for habitat restoration. This defunds conservation programs that rely on these federal funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 17, 2026

S 1547: America the Beautiful Act

The America the Beautiful Act reauthorizes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund through 2033, increasing its annual funding from $1.9 billion to $2 billion. It requires that projects funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund must secure at least 15% of their costs from public donations, which will be solicited through public awareness campaigns, donation locations at recreation sites, and during the purchase of recreation passes. The bill also mandates new reporting requirements for deferred maintenance and disposal of assets no longer serving public interest, while ensuring donations are credited to the Fund and allocated to specific projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases funding for national park restoration, requiring public donations for conservation projects, directly advancing environmental protection and resource conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2025

HR 1885: Town of North Topsail Beach Coastal Barrier Resources System Map Amendment Act of 2025

This bill corrects the map for the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) to exclude specific parcels in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, that are zoned for non-conservation uses (like development) as of the bill's enactment date. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to remove these parcels from CBRS Unit L06 within 30 days of the bill becoming law. This change removes federal restrictions on federal spending and development in those parcels, directly affecting landowners and developers in North Topsail Beach. The amendment applies only to areas within the town's municipal boundaries, based on existing local zoning rules.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves parcels from CBRS conservation system, lifting federal development restrictions and weakening environmental protections95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves federal development restrictions on parcels zoned for non-conservation uses, enabling housing construction by lifting CBRS barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Property Development Zoning

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in committee · United States · House Jan 28, 2025

HR 775: No Net Gain in Federal Lands Act of 2025

HR 775, the No Net Gain in Federal Lands Act of 2025, requires the U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to maintain a "no net gain" in federal land ownership within any state each fiscal year. This means the total acres of federal land acquired (including fee title and other interests) cannot exceed the acres disposed of (sold or transferred) in that state during the same year. The bill mandates annual inventories and reports tracking land holdings by interest type (e.g., fee, easement), and if acquisition exceeds disposal, the President must convey equivalent land to the state within 24 months. It directly affects federal land management agencies and state governments by limiting federal land expansion without corresponding disposal.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prevents federal land expansion for conservation, restricting new protected areas and weakening environmental protection efforts by mandating no net gain in federal ownership.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HR 2773: Landowner Easement Rights Act

HR 2773, the Landowner Easement Rights Act, limits new conservation easements to 30 years and gives current landowners with certain long-term easements (over 30 years old or created before 1977 without a map) the right to renegotiate or buy back their easements. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide landowners with a detailed map and current fair market value notice within six months of a request, then offer renegotiation for a new 30-year term or payment equal to the easement's value minus prior payments (adjusted for inflation). Landowners can also choose to purchase the easement back at fair market value. The Secretary must notify landowners of these rights 3 months before specific milestones related to their easement's status. This directly affects private landowners holding eligible conservation easements managed by the Department of the Interior.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits conservation easement duration to 30 years and enables landowner exit, weakening long-term environmental protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Feb 12, 2025

HR 231: Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act of 2025

HR 231 extends the Colorado River Basin conservation pilot program through 2026 and the overall program through 2027. It updates the end dates in the existing 2015 law from 2024 (for the pilot phase) to 2026, and from 2025 (for the full program) to 2027. This extension applies to participating states in the Colorado River Basin, allowing continued water conservation efforts under the current program structure. The bill makes no new policy changes but prolongs the existing framework for water savings initiatives.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends existing Colorado River Basin water conservation program, maintaining ongoing environmental protection efforts without weakening measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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