Congress·Passed House·H.R. 556

Policy blocks federal bans on lead ammo and fishing tackle on public lands, allows local exceptions

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

View on Congress.gov

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Scheduled for House Floor Vote

This bill is on the House floor schedule this week pursuant to a rule.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

215–202

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Stops federal wildlife and land agencies from banning lead bullets or fishing weights on most public lands and waters open to hunting and fishing
Keeps current national rules for waterfowl hunting that already limit lead use in place
Allows a local ban only if site data shows wildlife is declining mainly due to lead and the state wildlife agency agrees or has matching rules; the agency must post a public notice
Hunters and anglers could keep using cheaper lead gear in many places; others worry lead can poison birds like eagles and harm fish
Does not change rules on state or private land; it only affects federal areas open to hunting and fishing

EnvironmentGun PolicyAgriculture

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Federal Employee

Neutral

Milestones

5 milestones27 actions

Mar 19, 2026Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Mar 18, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 18, 2026House

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 93).

Mar 18, 2026

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 93).

Mar 18, 2026House

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 209 (Roll no. 92).

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

As soon as the bill becomes law

Federal agencies can no longer set broad bans on lead ammo or lead tackle across federal hunting/fishing areas (with limited exceptions).

Hunters and anglers are less likely to see sweeping rule changes that force a quick switch to non-lead gear on large areas of federal land or water.

After the law takes effect, when a site-specific problem is identified

If an agency wants a lead restriction in a specific federal area, it must show local field data that lead is the main cause of wildlife decline there and align with or get approval from the state fish and wildlife agency.

Any lead limits that do happen are more likely to be narrow (place-by-place) and take longer, with more coordination with the state.

Whenever a site-specific lead restriction is proposed or finalized

Agencies must publish a Federal Register notice explaining how any site-specific lead restriction meets the bill’s requirements.

The public (including hunters, anglers, and conservation groups) would be able to see the agency’s reasoning and the evidence it cites for that specific place.

Vote Results

2 votes

HouseFailedProceduralMar 18, 2026

On Motion to Recommit

206

209

Democrat

206 – 0 · 8

Republican

0 – 209 · 9

View full roll call

HousePassedPassageMar 18, 2026

On Passage

215

202

Democrat

7 – 201 · 6

Republican

208 – 1 · 9

View full roll call

Related News

10 articles

Breitbart News·about 1 year ago

Sen. Steve Daines Introduces Bill Blocking Bans on Lead Tackle and Ammo

Coverage of S. 537, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025, introduced by Sen. Steve Daines to bar federal agencies from banning lead ammunition and tackle on most public lands and waters.

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NRA-ILA·about 1 year ago

Rep. Wittman & Sen. Daines Reintroduce the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act

Announcement of H.R. 556 and its Senate companion to prevent Interior and Agriculture from banning traditional lead ammo and tackle on federal lands, with limited site-specific exceptions.

R+

NRA-ILA·8 months ago

House Natural Resources Committee Advances Key Hunting Bills

Committee action moves H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, toward a House floor vote, aiming to block broad federal lead ammo and tackle bans on public lands and waters.

R+

Related Bills

2 bills

H.Res. 1115Related bill

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 556) to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from prohibiting the use of lead ammunition or tackle on certain Federal land or water under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1958) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify that aliens who have been convicted of defrauding the United States Government or the unlawful receipt of public benefits are inadmissible and deportable; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4638) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien who has been convicted of harming animals used in law enforcement is inadmissible and deportable, and for other purposes; and relating to consideration of motions to suspend the rules.

Mar 17 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S. 537Identical bill

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025

Feb 12 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.