A Republican bill with 16 Republican cosponsors · See all 16 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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
The Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 authorizes livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures. This authorization allows for capturing, killing, dispersing, or transporting carcasses to prevent death, injury, or destruction to livestock. This provision applies notwithstanding the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, the use of poison to take these birds is prohibited. Additionally, covered persons must submit annual reports to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service regarding any birds taken.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill directly assists livestock producers by providing legal authorization to manage bird populations that threaten livestock.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill benefits livestock producers by allowing them to protect their assets from vultures.
- Scored +5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides relief to livestock producers by allowing them to mitigate losses caused by black vultures.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill eases protections for black vultures by allowing their take without violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill requires annual reporting to a federal agency, adding a layer of federal oversight for livestock producers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Protection of Livestock: A covered person may take or attempt to take a black vulture that is causing, or that the covered person has a reasonable belief will cause, death, injury, or destruction to livestock (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Prohibition on Specific Methods: A covered person is not allowed to take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Reporting Requirements: A covered person that takes a black vulture must complete and submit a report to the appropriate United States Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office every year (Section 2(c)(1)).
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 directly assists livestock producers by providing legal authorization to manage bird populations that threaten livestock. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill benefits livestock producers by allowing them to protect their assets from vultures. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides practical management tools for those living and working in rural livestock production.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides relief to livestock producers by allowing them to mitigate losses caused by black vultures.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill eases protections for black vultures by allowing their take without violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill requires annual reporting to a federal agency, adding a layer of federal oversight for livestock producers.
- 5/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 15 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Tom CottonRepublican · Arkansas
Ted CruzRepublican · Texas
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Tommy TubervilleRepublican · Alabama
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi