Northern Great Lakes Wolf Recovery Act
Requires an updated wolf monitoring plan and a rule delisting Northern Great Lakes wolves under the Endangered Species Act.
In the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 14 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal rules determine whether gray wolves receive Endangered Species Act protections and how their populations are monitored. The bill would require an updated monitoring plan for wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After that update, it would require a rule delisting those wolves and create a committee to advise on the process and monitoring.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Require a rule delisting regional wolves
After the monitoring plan is updated, the Secretary of the Interior must issue a rule removing gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from Endangered Species Act listing. The bill directs that the change apply to this region and not alter other wolf populations or other parts of the 1978 rule.
- Update the wolf monitoring plan
The Fish and Wildlife Service Director must update the existing post-delisting monitoring plan for wolves in the Northern Great Lakes Region, in consultation with the advisory committee.
- Create a regional advisory committee
The committee would include federal officials, representatives of federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations, state agency heads, and other people with relevant expertise. It would advise on the plan update and delisting rule, and consult during the five-year post-delisting monitoring period.
The bill would change the federal Endangered Species Act status of gray wolves in the Northern Great Lakes Region and set out how they would be monitored after delisting. That makes both the legal protections for this population and the plans for tracking it after delisting at stake.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026SENATESEP 24, 2026By Sen. Baldwin with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Environment and Public Works
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 24, 2026ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 14 daysNo hearing yet
- 14 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 14, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Baldwin’s record: sponsored 56 bills this Congress. 2 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Amy KlobucharD-MNORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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