Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025

H.R. 3858 would reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, a conservation program that has operated since 1950. The bill extends the program's authorization through 2031 and makes technical adjustments to how funding is distributed. The program is supported by an excise tax on fishing equipment, boat imports, and a portion of gasoline taxes for small engines and motorboats, generating approximately $700 million annually.

If enacted, the bill would continue funding for fish habitat restoration, operation of over 320 fish hatcheries that stock approximately one billion fish annually, and improvements to public boating and fishing access sites. The program also supports boating safety initiatives through the U.S. Coast Guard and maintains water quality through pump-out station construction. The bill has bipartisan support and was unanimously approved by the House Natural Resources Committee, making it eligible for a full House floor vote.

The legislation would strengthen state-led management of over 200 sport fish species and support the outdoor recreation economy, which benefits local guides, outfitters, hotels, restaurants, and equipment manufacturers. Citizens who fish or boat recreationally would benefit from continued access to improved fishing sites, stocked waters, and safer boating infrastructure if this bill becomes law.