Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act of 2026

The Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction Act of 2026 establishes a new program under the Secretary of Agriculture to develop, implement, and coordinate nonlethal strategies for reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife, as well as between livestock and wildlife. This program prioritizes areas where the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Nonlethal Initiative currently operates, focusing on reducing livestock depredation and mitigating harm to human infrastructure and agriculture. The existing Nonlethal Initiative will be subsumed into this new, broader program to streamline efforts. The Secretary is mandated to conduct research and development to analyze and create effective nonlethal strategies, and to provide assistance to landowners, agricultural producers, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations for deploying these methods. The program also includes sharing best practices, offering training, and supporting demonstration projects to evaluate and improve nonlethal strategies under local conditions. An annual report to Congress will detail fund usage, impacted species, and strategy effectiveness, with $20,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.