The Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025 pushes back the date when interest earned on money held in the federal wildlife restoration fund becomes available to states. Under current law that interest was set to become available for apportionment in fiscal year 2026; this bill delays that date to fiscal year 2033. The fund itself is fed by federal excise taxes on hunting, fishing, and shooting-sports equipment, and its earnings help pay for wildlife habitat restoration, hunter education, and public land access projects run by state wildlife agencies. State agencies that plan multi-year restoration projects around this funding stream will see the interest portion of their money arrive seven years later than originally scheduled. The change does not touch the fund's underlying principal, only the timing of when accumulated interest can be tapped.
Congressional Summary
Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025This act extends until FY2033 a requirement for the interest earned on certain funds held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund to be distributed to states for carrying out certain wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Specifically, the act extends the period in which the interest earned on revenue generated from excise taxes on certain firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment must be used for wildlife conservation and restoration programs established under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This requirement was set to expire at the beginning of FY2026. In the absence of this requirement, this funding would be distributed to states, according to a formula, for (1) wildlife restoration, (2) hunter education and safety, (3) multistate conservation grants, and (4) administrative costs.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2025-11-25
- Date Added
- 2026-07-10
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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