Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025

This law makes a single targeted change to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act: it extends from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2033 the date at which interest accumulated on obligations held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund (also called the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund) becomes available for apportionment. That interest, once available, is distributed to states to carry out wildlife conservation and restoration programs.

The law does not change the underlying formula for how those funds are apportioned among states, the purposes for which the money can be used, or any other provision of the Pittman-Robertson Act. It solely pushes back the availability date of the accumulated interest by seven fiscal years.

State wildlife agencies that receive apportionments from the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund, particularly those that had anticipated access to the accumulated interest beginning in fiscal year 2026. Wildlife conservation and restoration programs funded by those apportionments are also affected by the delayed availability.

States that had planned on receiving the interest earnings starting in FY2026 will now wait until FY2033. This affects the timing of funding available for state wildlife conservation and restoration work — programs that purchase wetlands habitat, improve public access for hunters and anglers, and support wildlife population management.