H.R. 5829 — Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act

This section redesignates the existing authorities for helicopter and motor vehicle use in wild horse and burro management as subsection (a) and establishes in new subsection (b) a grant program allocating $100,000 annually for FY2026 through FY2030, from funds available to carry out the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (which directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, to protect and manage wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands). Grants support pilot projects testing unmanned aerial systems (i.e., drones) for humane gathering, management, fertility control, and herd-health efforts and must be awarded to organizations—including institutions of higher education—with expertise in drone technology and a commitment to equine welfare research. Funded projects must report results to Congress and the public within 180 days of completion, and grantees must submit an additional report to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture evaluating drone uses for ranching, animal care, and environmental stewardship.