Sport Fish Restoration Act Amendments

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

Summary#

This bill amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and related statutes. It extends the date used for dividing annual appropriations from 2026 to 2031. It changes the funding rule for interstate fisheries commission activities by removing a $1,200,000 cap and setting a minimum payment equal to the greater of 0.0375 percent of the appropriation or $200,000. It adds boating infrastructure priorities to allow construction, renovation, or maintenance of alternative marine fuel facilities and the transportation of alternative marine fuels for use by certain recreational vessels. It defines terms such as "alternative fuel station facility," "alternative marine fuels," and "drop-in fuels." It also changes the excise tax rate for portable, electronically-aerated bait containers from 10 percent to 3 percent for items sold after the bill is enacted.

What it means for you#

  • Recreational boaters: The bill allows grant-funded boating projects to include alternative marine fuel stations and fuel transport for some transient recreational vessels.
  • Manufacturers and sellers of portable, electronically-aerated bait containers: Such products sold after enactment would be taxed at 3 percent instead of 10 percent.
  • State and interstate fisheries organizations: The way payments are calculated to interstate fisheries commissions is changed to a formula based on a percentage of appropriations, instead of the previous capped amount.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total cost or budget estimates. The bill changes funding rules but does not include an overall appropriation amount in the text provided. Specific changes in the text: removal of a $1,200,000 cap for certain payments and a new minimum equal to the greater of 0.0375 percent of the appropriation or $200,000. The tax change applies to articles sold by manufacturers, producers, or importers after enactment; no revenue estimates are provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.