Troy Downing (R-MT)
Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the ``Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act'', seeks to establish clear ownership of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel. It mandates that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and financial responsibility for the channel. This ensures that the responsibility for conserving the endangered pallid sturgeon remains a Federal duty. The legislation specifically prevents the costs or operational burdens of the bypass channel from being shifted to the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District or Project. It also provides for ongoing federal funding to maintain the channel and its biological functions.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill ensures the continuous operation and maintenance of the fish bypass channel to protect endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species.
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill ensures that the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District is not burdened with the costs of federal environmental mitigation, protecting agricultural stability.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
By preventing the transfer of federal mitigation costs to local entities, the bill protects irrigation districts and their members from undue financial liability.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of local water entities: The bill ensures that the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District and the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project are not burdened with financial or operational responsibilities for the fish bypass channel (Section 2, Section 4).
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Long-term conservation of native species: The Act maintains Federal responsibility for the conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species through the operation of the bypass channel (Section 2, Section 5).
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Guaranteed funding for infrastructure: The bill authorizes $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each year thereafter to ensure the continuous operation, repair, and upgrading of the fish bypass channel (Section 8).
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Legal recourse for stakeholders: It provides a right for the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District, the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, and affected stakeholders to file complaints in Federal District Court if the Secretary attempts to transfer responsibilities to non-Federal entities (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned within the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill ensures that the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District is not burdened with the costs of federal environmental mitigation, protecting agricultural stability. Would business owners be better off under this? — By preventing the transfer of federal mitigation costs to local entities, the bill protects irrigation districts and their members from undue financial liability.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill ensures the continuous operation and maintenance of the fish bypass channel to protect endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill protects local irrigation districts from unexpected financial burdens, supporting stable agricultural operations in rural Montana and North Dakota.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill provides explicit authorization of $1,000,000 annually to ensure the government can meet its stated maintenance and conservation obligations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to submit biennial reports to Congress regarding the operational status and cost analysis of the bypass channel.
- 2/4/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 1/28/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 12/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.