WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 2316 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-40

Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025

Became lawPublic Lands and Natural Resources
IntroducedMar 25, 2025
Passed HouseJul 14, 2025
Passed SenateOct 23, 2025
To PresidentNov 25, 2025
Became lawNov 25, 2025

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 2316 changed 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

16 U.S.C. 669b Authorization of appropriations

  • (b) Investment of unexpended amounts changed · Sec. 2 · see the words
What the words changed: every change, in place (1)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 16 U.S.C. 669b(b)(2)(C)changedby H.R. 2316 Sec. 2

    (C) shall become available for apportionment under this chapter at the beginning of fiscal year 20262033.

    The bill says: Section 3(b)(2)(C) of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669b(b)(2)(C)) is amended by striking "2026" and inserting "2033".

    Bill text · Current law (16 U.S.C. 669b)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025

This act extends until FY2033 a requirement for the interest earned on certain funds held in the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund to be distributed to states for carrying out certain wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Specifically, the act extends the period in which the interest earned on revenue generated from excise taxes on certain firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment must be used for wildlife conservation and restoration programs established under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This requirement was set to expire at the beginning of FY2026. In the absence of this requirement, this funding would be distributed to states, according to a formula, for (1) wildlife restoration, (2) hunter education and safety, (3) multistate conservation grants, and (4) administrative costs.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Mar 25, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2025-11-25Became Public Law No: 119-40.Library of Congress
  2. 2025-11-25Signed by President.Library of Congress
  3. 2025-11-25Presented to President.Library of Congress
  4. 2025-10-23Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  5. 2025-07-14Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.Library of Congress
  6. 2025-07-10Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-191.Library of Congress
  7. 2025-03-25Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 29 recorded actions

After it became law

Sourced

Nothing in the Federal Register names Public Law 119-40 yet (checked Oct 27, 2026). Many laws need no new rules: they set penalties, name a building, or fund something directly.

Cosponsors

  • Sarah Elfreth D-MD-3
  • Adam Gray D-CA-13
  • Sarah McBride D-DE-At Large