MONARCH Act of 2025

The MONARCH Act of 2025 would establish the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund to support conservation efforts for western monarch butterflies, which overwinter along California's coast and breed across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. The bill would authorize $12.5 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to be deposited into the fund, with up to 3 percent available for administrative expenses. The Department of the Interior would use these funds to provide grants to local governments, tribal governments, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations for conservation projects that protect and restore monarch habitats, including milkweed and nectar plants, overwintering sites, and breeding areas. Additionally, the Interior Department would work with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to update and implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan developed by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. If enacted, this legislation would support habitat restoration and conservation efforts that could benefit monarch butterflies and other pollinators in western states.