Steve Daines (R-MT)
Lower Yellowstone River Native Fish Conservation Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. 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," aims to clarify ownership of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Bypass Channel. It mandates that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership, operational control, and full financial responsibility for the channel. This ensures that the responsibility for protecting the endangered pallid sturgeon stays with the Federal government. The Act specifically prevents the costs or duties of maintaining the fish bypass from being shifted to the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District or Project. It provides for annual federal funding to keep the channel running and perform necessary repairs.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill ensures long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon through permanent federal ownership and dedicated funding for the fish bypass channel.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill protects irrigation districts and projects from being forced to fund or operate the fish bypass channel.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill mandates that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership and full financial responsibility for the fish bypass channel.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $1,000,000 in annual federal funding for the operation and maintenance of the fish bypass channel.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Local Irrigation 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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Environmental Conservation: The Act maintains federal responsibility for the long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native aquatic species in the Yellowstone River (Section 2, Section 5).
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Financial Stability for Infrastructure: By authorizing $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each year thereafter, the bill provides dedicated funding for necessary engineering, repairs, and upgrades to the fish bypass channel (Section 8).
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Legal Clarity and Recourse: The bill grants the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District and affected stakeholders the right to file a complaint in Federal District Court if the Secretary attempts to transfer responsibilities to a non-Federal entity (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly identified within the provided text regarding burdens on individuals or groups of people.
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 protects irrigation districts and projects from being forced to fund or operate the fish bypass channel. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill prevents irrigation districts and associated local entities from being saddled with the costs of federal environmental mandates. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides fiscal certainty to the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District by guaranteeing that environmental mitigation costs remain a federal responsibility.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill ensures long-term conservation of the endangered pallid sturgeon through permanent federal ownership and dedicated funding for the fish bypass channel. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill protects local irrigation districts in Montana and North Dakota from the financial burden of federal environmental mitigation projects.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates that the Bureau of Reclamation retains exclusive ownership and full financial responsibility for the fish bypass channel. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to submit a biennial report to Congress describing the operational status and cost analysis of the fish bypass channel.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $1,000,000 in annual federal funding for the operation and maintenance of the fish bypass channel.
- 3/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
- 1/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 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.
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana