in 2025 and early 2026, wildlife legislation and federal rulemaking have focused on reforming the Endangered Species Act (ESA), enhancing wildlife corridors, and updating hunting and fishing regulations for the 2025–2026 seasons.
Federal bills
These federal bills were introduced or moved forward in 2025 and 2026:
- Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act of 2025 (H.R. 180): Modifies how species are determined to be threatened or endangered. It requires federal agencies to publish the scientific data used for these determinations online and caps attorney’s fees in citizen suits.
- Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 6078/S. 3503): Aims to reauthorize funding for infrastructure projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity.
- Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act of 2025 (H.R. 717): Establishes grant programs to conserve big game movement areas and migration corridors.
- Wildlife Confiscations Network Act of 2025 (H.R. 3538): Proposed to establish a formal network for the care and placement of confiscated live wildlife.
- Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897): Seeks to streamline the ESA permitting process and focus on species recovery rather than just listing.
Federal Regulatory Updates - Proposed Snare Trap Ban of 2025. Would ban the use of snare traps in hunting and trapping. The traps are widely regarded as causing particularly significant suffering to wildlife.
