Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2235

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Last Updated

2025-05-06T17:01:36Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2025 aims to enhance wildlife movement across landscapes by amending the Food Security Act of 1985. It focuses on improving habitat connectivity—defined as how landscapes allow native species to move between habitats—and migration corridors for big game species (large native mammals like deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose) on working agricultural lands, such as farms and ranches, without disrupting farming activities.

Key Provisions

• New Definitions: Adds terms to the Food Security Act, including "habitat connectivity" (facilitating species movement among habitats) and "big game species" (native large mammals like deer, elk, pronghorn, wild sheep, and moose).
• Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): Expands critical conservation areas to prioritize restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors, especially for big game species.
• Enrollment of Grasslands in Other Programs:
• Allows grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)—a federal program that pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production—to also receive cost-share payments (financial help for implementation) under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for practices like planning, installation, and maintenance.
• Limits eligibility to grasslands of "ecological significance" (high-value for conservation) and prohibits receiving payments for the same practice from multiple federal programs (no double benefits).
• Preserves emergency access for grazing or haying on these lands during droughts or other crises, without affecting connectivity-focused practices.
• Payment Increases:
• Raises the annual rental payment limit for CRP from $50,000 to $125,000 per person.
• Boosts EQIP payments for practices that address wildlife habitat conservation, restoration, connectivity, and migration corridors.
• Conservation Practice Standards: Requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to incorporate nonstructural methods, such as virtual fencing (technology using GPS collars on livestock to create invisible boundaries instead of physical fences), into standards. Ensures technical assistance (expert guidance) is available for these and other connectivity-supporting practices.
• Encouragement in Programs: Directs USDA to promote landscape and water-related corridors in all conservation programs to support biodiversity (variety of native species) and resilience against environmental stresses like climate change.
• Research and Extension: Adds virtual fencing as a high-priority area for USDA research grants, focusing on adoption barriers, and its effects on resources like sensitive riverbank areas and big game habitats.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands Program Access: Previously, CRP-enrolled grasslands were generally ineligible for EQIP and CSP payments; this bill creates exceptions for ecologically significant lands, enabling combined use of programs to support connectivity without overlapping benefits.
• Payment Adjustments: Doubles the CRP rental cap to incentivize longer-term conservation commitments and explicitly ties higher EQIP payments to habitat connectivity, which was not previously emphasized.
• Incorporates New Technologies: Introduces virtual fencing into conservation standards, shifting from traditional physical barriers that can block wildlife movement.
• Research Focus: Adds a specific priority on virtual fencing to the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, building on existing research frameworks.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for USDA agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (which runs EQIP and CSP) to develop standards, provide technical assistance, and administer expanded payments and research grants. May require additional funding or staff for virtual fencing implementation and monitoring.
• Citizens: Benefits farmers and ranchers by offering more financial incentives and flexible tools (e.g., virtual fencing) to maintain operations while supporting wildlife, potentially reducing conflicts between agriculture and conservation. Could improve rural economies through enhanced biodiversity and resilient lands.
• International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestic-focused on U.S. agricultural conservation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Farmers and Ranchers (Producers): Primary beneficiaries through expanded payment options, higher limits, and tools like virtual fencing to balance livestock management with wildlife needs.
• Wildlife and Conservation Groups: Gain from improved migration corridors and habitat restoration, aiding species like elk and deer.
• USDA and Federal Agencies: Responsible for implementation, including program administration, technical support, and research.
• Local Communities and Ecosystems: Indirectly affected through preserved biodiversity, reduced habitat fragmentation (breaking up natural areas), and potential tourism or hunting benefits from healthier wildlife populations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens existing conservation frameworks under the Food Security Act by integrating wildlife connectivity without creating new standalone programs, ensuring compliance with federal anti-double-dipping rules. No challenges to property rights, as it relies on voluntary enrollment and incentives.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate agriculture and conservation under the Commerce Clause; no apparent First Amendment or due process issues, as changes are incentive-based rather than mandatory.
• Political: Sponsored by bipartisan representatives (Democrats and Republicans), reflecting a balance between agricultural interests and environmental protection. Could influence farm bill reauthorizations by prioritizing "working lands" conservation, potentially appealing to rural voters and conservation advocates amid debates on climate resilience and species protection.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
• 2025-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-03-18: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-18 — PDF (8 pages)