HR 776 · 119th Congress

Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act of 2025

invasive specieswetland restorationwildlife managementnutria control
Share

Last action 2025-02-05

Sponsored by Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D) — CA

Click any stage to learn more about the legislative process.

The bill would extend through fiscal year 2030 the federal program that helps states eradicate nutria, an invasive marsh rodent, and restore wetlands the animals have damaged.

What this bill would do

What it would do

The bill would reauthorize the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 through fiscal year 2030, extending the Department of the Interior's authority to provide financial assistance to states for eradicating or controlling nutria populations and for restoring marshland damaged by the invasive rodents. It also makes a small technical correction to punctuation in the underlying law's definitions section.

The bill does not create a new program, change funding amounts, or alter how the assistance is administered; it simply extends the existing authorization period and fixes a wording error.

Key provisions

  1. 1Would extend the authorization for the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 from 2025 through 2030Sec. 2(a)
  2. 2Would make a technical punctuation correction to the definitions section of the underlying ActSec. 2(b)

Who would be affected

State wildlife and natural resource agencies in coastal and wetland states affected by nutria infestations, particularly along the Gulf Coast and mid-Atlantic, that receive federal assistance for eradication and marshland restoration efforts.

Why it matters

Without reauthorization, the underlying program's authority would have expired in 2025, potentially halting federal support for state nutria control and wetland restoration efforts. Extending it through 2030 allows states to continue relying on this funding source to manage the invasive species and repair damaged marshland.

What would change

Changes to existing law

Reauthorizes Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 8102(e)) (Sec. 2(a))

Extends the program's authorization period by replacing the expiration year 2025 with 2030

Amends Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 8102(a)) (Sec. 2(b))

Makes a technical correction to punctuation in the definitions section

Agencies directed to act

Department of the Interior

Legislative status & sources

Latest action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

2025-02-05

Official CRS summary

Show the CRS summary

This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003, which allows the Department of the Interior to provide financial assistance to states for (1) eradicating or controlling nutria, and (2) restoring marshland damaged by nutria. Nutria are invasive, semi-aquatic rodents.

From the Congressional Research Service.

Legislative subjects

Animals; Farmland; Land use and conservation; Mammals; Pest management; State and local government operations; Wetlands

Congressional Bill

Ask GovernmentReporter about this bill

Ask anything about this bill. The AI can look up referenced laws and statutes to provide context.

HR 776: Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act of 2025 | Legislation Reporter