H.R. 8438 — Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity Conservation Act of 2026

This section directs the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a habitat connectivity mapping and science program to develop mapping and science products supporting federal, state, local, and tribal governments and the public in protecting habitat connectivity for native species. The program requires the USGS to expand existing mapping efforts through collaboration with federal agencies, state/tribal/local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions; use advanced data management, visualization, and analysis technologies and share them with wildlife managers; and develop and publicly distribute a database and maps of corridors, habitat connectivity areas, and National Wildlife Corridors to guide land-use planning and species management. Not later than two years after enactment, the USGS must submit a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works assessing existing habitat connectivity data sources and identifying information gaps, while protecting proprietary interests and sensitive species location data. The program further directs the USGS to conduct research, including studies on (1) climate change impacts on habitat connectivity and needed corridor shifts, (2) effects of development on corridors, (3) new methods to prioritize critical corridors, and (4) effectiveness of fragmentation mitigation efforts.

This section establishes the National Wildlife Corridor System on federal land and water, to consist of National Wildlife Corridors designated by (1) statute; (2) rulemaking; or (3) a land use management plan developed or revised by the Secretaries. The section further requires the Secretary to develop, not later than 18 months after enactment, a strategy for the system's effective development that (1) supports the purposes described in section 2(b); (2) ensures coordination and consistency across federal agencies; and (3) includes a timeline for implementation.

This section establishes nomination processes for designating Federal lands and waters as National Wildlife Corridors, authorizing State, Tribal, and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and collaborative partnerships to submit nominations and directing the Coordinating Committee to nominate habitat connectivity areas not later than 2 years after the committee's establishment and every 5 years thereafter. The section further requires the Secretary concerned to determine the merits of any nomination within 1 year of receipt and directs the Secretaries to establish prioritization criteria, including (1) best available science on existing and potential future habitat connectivity; (2) whether the area provides habitat connectivity, supports wildlife movement, benefits multiple species, or aids fish or wildlife species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; and (3) Coordinating Committee recommendations.

This section directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to manage designated National Wildlife Corridors to promote the long-term persistence, resilience, adaptability, and movement of native species by (1) maintaining, restoring, or improving habitat connectivity with goals and monitoring; (2) prohibiting human infrastructure, development, and activities that impede wildlife movement except as minimally required under the Act; (3) implementing adaptation strategies; (4) leveraging existing conservation programs; and (5) providing education and outreach. The section further requires the Secretaries to (1) update relevant regulations, policies, and documents within two years of enactment to support corridor management and conservation; (2) incorporate corridor conservation and potential new designations into land use management plans within six months of each designation and during plan reviews, with removals permitted only if connectivity is ineffective or fully replaced; (3) subject corridors in wilderness, national parks, or wildlife refuges to the more restrictive provisions of this Act and preexisting laws; (4) withdraw Federal lands in corridors from entry, mining, and leasing under public land, mining, and mineral laws (subject to valid existing rights); (5) coordinate activities across multiple Secretaries' jurisdictions; and (6) consult with State, Tribal, and local transportation agencies on voluntary road mitigation measures (e.g., wildlife underpasses, overpasses, culverts, fences, and dam removals) to reduce wildlife mortality and restore connectivity. Finally, this section requires the Act's Coordinating Committee to report to Congress within two years of enactment and every five years thereafter on Federal management practices, wildlife movement structures, threats and opportunities for habitat connectivity, and coordination with State, Tribal, local, and other conservation efforts.

This section authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to establish collaborative partnerships with balanced, multi-stakeholder groups—including voluntary private landowners, nonprofit organizations, federal/state/tribal/local agencies, elected officials, and stakeholder groups—to coordinate roles among federal/state/tribal/local governments and identify regional liaisons for habitat conservation, restoration, and management. It requires the Secretaries to appoint national-level coordinators to oversee these partnerships; partner with state/tribal/local governments, such partnerships, and voluntary private landowners by providing technical assistance and other resources; and implement the title in consultation with other federal agencies (via the Coordinating Committee), affected private landowners, relevant state/tribal/local agencies, other stakeholders, and landscape/seascape-scale partnerships (e.g., National Fish Habitat Partnerships, Regional Fishery Management Councils, regional ocean partnerships, Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers, and Migratory Bird Joint Ventures).

This section establishes a coordinating committee not later than 180 days after enactment, composed of designees from the Departments of the Interior (or Secretary thereof), Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, and Defense; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the National Park Service; the Bureau of Land Management; the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; two representatives of intertribal organizations appointed by the Secretary; and up to three representatives of nongovernmental, science, or academic organizations appointed by the Secretary to ensure fair and balanced membership. Not later than one year after the committee's establishment, the committee must develop a strategy for (1) nominating national wildlife corridors for designation under section 202; (2) supporting the purposes of this Act; (3) coordinating with Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and collaborative partnerships to conserve national wildlife corridors or habitat connectivity; (4) providing education and outreach on the benefits of national wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity; and (5) other measures necessary for implementation of this Act.

This section establishes savings provisions and exceptions applicable to this title by— (1) preserving the jurisdiction of states and Indian tribes with respect to fish and wildlife management, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, and trapping, in a National Wildlife Corridor; (2) prohibiting any seizure of private property through eminent domain or the imposition of any restriction on the use of private land without the consent of the landowner; and (3) authorizing the Secretary of Defense to waive any requirement of this title for a military installation if necessary to ensure the preparedness of the Armed Forces or support the military mission of the installation, with public notice required unless publication would negatively affect national security.

This section establishes a wildlife movement grant program to encourage wildlife movement. Beginning not later than two years after enactment, the Secretary must make annual grants, based on recommendations from the Coordinating Committee, to one or more projects that satisfy the purposes described in section 2(b) and increase habitat connectivity. Eligible recipients include (1) voluntary private landowners or groups thereof; (2) state fish and wildlife agencies or other state natural resource agencies; (3) Indian Tribes; (4) units of local government; (5) agricultural cooperatives; (6) water, irrigation, or rural water districts or associations (including acequias and land grant communities in New Mexico); (7) institutions of higher education; (8) federal agencies; and (9) any group of such entities. In administering the program, the Secretary must use criteria, guidelines, contracts, reporting requirements, and evaluation metrics developed by the Coordinating Committee.

This section authorizes appropriations for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter as follows: (1) $5 million to the Secretary of the Interior for title I (science and mapping of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity); (2) for title II (collaboration, partnership, and conservation of wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity on federal land and water), $20 million to the Secretary of the Interior, $18 million to the Secretary of Transportation, $10 million to the Secretary of Agriculture, $9 million to the Secretary of Commerce, and $3 million to the Secretary of Defense; and (3) $75 million to the Secretary of the Interior for title III (wildlife corridor grant program on non-federal land and water), with at least 10% of funds reserved each fiscal year for projects that directly conserve, restore, or enhance big game migration corridors or seasonal habitat.