LEAD Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6268

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-02-05T09:06:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The LEAD Act of 2025 aims to protect human health and wildlife by prohibiting the use of lead-based ammunition on lands and waters managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It addresses the toxicity of lead, which can harm animals through ingestion of spent ammunition and contaminate food supplies, while promoting the use of safer, nonlead alternatives.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Lead Ammunition: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of the Interior, through the USFWS Director, must issue final regulations banning the discharge of firearms using any ammunition containing lead (except trace amounts of 1% or less by weight) on all USFWS-managed lands and waters.
• Certification of Nonlead Ammunition: The USFWS Director must create and annually update a list of approved nonlead ammunition types, developed in consultation with state and tribal governments to ensure enforceability.
• Exceptions: The ban does not apply to:
• Government officials or agents performing duties unrelated to wildlife management.
• State, local, tribal, or federal law enforcement officers (or their agents) carrying out legal duties.
• Active U.S. military members on official duties.
• Penalties for Violations: Knowing violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 for the first offense; second or subsequent offenses result in fines between $1,000 and $5,000.
• Definitions: The bill defines key terms, such as "ammunition" (projectiles expelled from a firearm), "firearm" (weapons using explosives or compressed air), and "nonlead ammunition" (free of lead beyond minimal traces).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands the 1991 USFWS requirement for nontoxic (nonlead) ammunition, which previously applied only to waterfowl hunting, to all hunting and firearm use on USFWS lands.
• Reverses the 2017 repeal of Director's Order 219, which had sought broader restrictions on lead ammunition; this bill mandates a nationwide prohibition on federal wildlife lands, shifting from voluntary or limited measures to enforceable regulations.
• Introduces civil penalties specifically for lead ammunition use, which were not previously standardized across all USFWS jurisdictions.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The USFWS will need to develop regulations, maintain an ammunition certification list, and enforce penalties, potentially increasing administrative and monitoring costs. Consultation with states and tribes may foster collaboration but could strain resources.
• Citizens: Hunters and recreational shooters on USFWS lands (about 150 million acres) must switch to nonlead ammunition, which is available and performs similarly but may raise short-term costs. Consumers of game meat could benefit from reduced lead exposure risks, protecting public health, especially for children and vulnerable groups.
• Wildlife and Environment: Reduces lead poisoning in birds, mammals, and endangered species that ingest fragments, as well as contamination of soil, water, and food chains (e.g., livestock and crops).
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it aligns with global efforts to phase out lead (e.g., in paints and fuels), potentially influencing U.S. wildlife conservation partnerships abroad.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Wildlife and Conservation Groups: Beneficiaries through reduced lead toxicosis in animals, including threatened and endangered species.
• Hunters and Sportsmen: Directly impacted, as they must adapt equipment and practices on federal lands; some may face higher costs for nonlead options.
• USFWS and Department of the Interior: Responsible for implementation, enforcement, and certification, affecting their operational priorities.
• State and Tribal Governments: Involved in consultations for ammunition lists; they may need to align local hunting rules or manage cross-jurisdictional enforcement.
• Ammunition Manufacturers and Retailers: Encouraged to produce and sell nonlead products, potentially boosting that market segment.
• General Public and Health Advocates: Gain from lower lead exposure in food and the environment, supporting broader public health goals.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes clear civil penalties without criminalizing possession, focusing enforcement on use during discharge; relies on existing USFWS authority under wildlife laws, but could face challenges over regulatory timelines or certification processes.
• Constitutional: May raise questions about federal overreach into hunting rights (protected under state laws and indirectly linked to Second Amendment firearm rights), though exceptions for official duties mitigate some concerns; no direct free speech or due process issues apparent.
• Political: Reinforces environmental and public health priorities, potentially polarizing along urban-rural divides (e.g., support from conservationists vs. opposition from hunting lobbies); builds on bipartisan historical actions like the 1991 waterfowl rule but reflects ongoing debates over lead bans in other contexts, such as national parks.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-21: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-11-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Lead Endangers Animals Daily Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-21 — PDF (5 pages)