H.R. 10117: Gathering Alligator Treatment, Oversight, and Response Act of 2026

This bill would direct the Government Accountability Office (the Comptroller General) to study how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s treatment of certain reptiles as threatened species affects their populations and management.

What reptiles are covered

The study would focus on:

• The American alligator
• The common caiman
• The brown caiman

What the study would examine

The GAO, working with the Interior Secretary and any relevant state wildlife agencies, would look at whether listing these reptiles as threatened because they resemble endangered or threatened species has:

• Changed how states manage these animals
• Led to the American alligator being recovered more than necessary
• Allowed the common caiman or brown caiman to become invasive in Florida
• Made it harder to remove nuisance alligators or invasive caimans from waterways near homes or businesses

What the bill would not do

The bill does not directly change any endangered species protections, ban any activity, or set new wildlife rules by itself. It only requires a study and report on the effects of the current policy.

Relevant Companies

None found