Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act

Overview: HR 5829, Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act, Introduced in House, Introduced: October 24, 2025

Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this bill is to establish a grant program within the Department of the Interior to support the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for natural resource management and conservation activities on public lands.

Key Provisions:
- Creates a competitive grant program to provide funding to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as non-profit organizations, to acquire and operate UAS for natural resource stewardship
- Allows grant funds to be used for the purchase of UAS hardware and software, pilot training, and the development of UAS-based monitoring and management programs
- Requires grant recipients to submit annual reports on the use and effectiveness of UAS in their conservation and land management activities
- Authorizes $20 million in annual appropriations for the grant program over a 5-year period

Affected Parties and Impacts: The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be state, local, and tribal governments, as well as non-profit conservation organizations, that manage public lands and natural resources. The grant program would enable these entities to leverage UAS technology to enhance their stewardship and monitoring capabilities.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations: This bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently pending further legislative action. If enacted, the Department of the Interior would be required to establish the grant program and begin accepting applications within one year of the bill's passage.