Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025
Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill streamlines the federal approval process for state wildlife conservation plans. Currently, when states submit their wildlife action plans (called SWAPs) to the Department of Interior for federal funding, there's no set timeline for approval. This bill would require the Interior Department to approve or reject state plans within 180 days.
If Interior misses that deadline, the state's plan would automatically be approved, and the state would receive its funding anyway. **Who It Affects:** State wildlife agencies and the hunting, fishing, and conservation communities they serve would benefit from faster funding decisions. The bill affects the federal Department of Interior, which oversees the State Wildlife Grant Program that distributes millions of dollars annually to states for conservation projects. **Current Status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate. It's a relatively straightforward procedural measure aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays in wildlife funding—a goal that has historically had bipartisan support, since both Republicans and Democrats generally back conservation and hunting/fishing initiatives.
CRS Official Summary
Make SWAPs Efficient Act of 2025 or the Make State Wildlife Action Plans Efficient Act of 2025This bill modifies the State Wildlife Grant Program (SWGP) to establish a deadline for the Department of the Interior to approve state wildlife conservation and restoration programs. Under the SWGP, Interior provides funding to state wildlife agencies to implement their comprehensive plans (commonly known as state wildlife action plans or SWAPs) for state wildlife conservation and restoration programs.The bill directs Interior to approve a state wildlife conservation and restoration program within 180 days after the date on which the state submitted its SWAP if Interior finds that the SWAP complies with the requirements of the SWGP. If Interior misses the deadline, the bill requires (1) the SWAP to be automatically approved, and (2) Interior to set aside amounts under the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account for the state.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.