Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act
Summary
HB5829, the Leveraging Aerial Systems for Stewardship Operations (LASSO) Act, would amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to create a federal grant pilot program for using unmanned aerial systems, or drones, in the humane roundup and management of wild horses and burros. For fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the Secretary of the Interior would be required to set aside $100,000 each year from funds available under that Act for grants supporting pilot projects that test drone-based gathering and herd management methods.
The bill also allows grants to support drone-assisted fertility control applications and related herd-health efforts. Eligible grantees would include organizations and institutions of higher learning with demonstrated drone expertise and a commitment to equine welfare. Funded projects would be required to produce reports for Congress and the public within 180 days after completion, and grantees must also submit an evaluation to the House Agriculture Committee and the Department of Agriculture on broader uses of drones for ranching, animal care, and environmental stewardship.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new subsection to 16 U.S.C. 1338a and direct the Department of the Interior to reserve annual funding for drone-related pilot programs under the federal wild horse and burro management framework. It would not broadly rewrite land management law, but it would create a specific federal research-and-demonstration funding stream and reporting requirements tied to humane management, fertility control, and herd health for wild equids.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed positively and pragmatically, emphasizing humane treatment, innovation, and stewardship. The sponsors present drones as a tool to improve management efficiency and animal welfare, and the reporting requirements suggest an evidence-based pilot approach rather than a permanent operational mandate. No formal opposition is reflected in the available record.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be whether drones are an appropriate or effective tool for wild horse and burro roundup and whether federal funds should be directed to pilot projects instead of other management approaches. Stakeholders focused on animal welfare may support the humane and fertility-control emphasis, while others may question the practicality, cost, or broader implications for ranching and public-land management. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes provided, no specific member or group opposition is documented in the available materials.