H.R. 9590House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

SAFE for Manatees Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 7, 2026 at 4:54 AM UTC

The SAFE for Manatees Act requires the Interior Secretary to examine new habitat options for Florida manatees that currently depend on warm water from coastal industrial sites that are being decommissioned. The study will look at both natural warm‑water locations and the possibility of building artificial warm‑water refuges, and the findings must be reported to the public within 180 days.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of the Interior must conduct a study to find alternative habitats for manatees affected by decommissioned industrial sites.
The study must identify natural warm‑water sites not currently used by manatees and evaluate where artificial warm‑water refuges could be created.
The Secretary must work with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop methods and plans for constructing artificial refuges.
The study must be coordinated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A public report of the study’s results must be released no later than 180 days after the law takes effect.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 2, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

July 2, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 2, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9590

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 2, 2026

Mr. Webster of Florida (for himself and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on alternative habitat for certain manatees, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Study and Assessment of Future Ecosystems for Manatees Act or the SAFE for Manatees Act.

Study on alternative habitat for certain manatees

(a)

Study

The Secretary shall conduct a study on locations that could function as habitat for manatees that are currently utilizing areas in Florida around coastal industrial sites subject to decommissioning actions that will affect water temperatures in such areas.

(b)

Requirements

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

identify and assess locations that could function as habitat for manatees described in subsection (a), including—

(A)

locations of natural warm water not currently used by manatees; and

(B)

locations where artificial warm water refugia for manatees could be constructed; and

(2)

develop, in consultation with the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, potential methods to create artificial warm water refugia for manatees described in subsection (a) and plans for the construction of such refugia.

(c)

Coordination

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(d)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make publicly available a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

(e)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Manatee

The term manatee means a member of the species trichechus manatus.

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.