This legislation, known as the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2025 (MONARCH Act of 2025), addresses the critical decline of the western monarch butterfly population. Congress finds that this population has decreased by over 99 percent in three decades, reaching historic lows due to factors like drought, habitat loss, and climate change, and faces imminent extinction within two decades without urgent action. The bill emphasizes that restoring native milkweed, nectar plants, and overwintering habitats is crucial for the survival of western monarch butterflies and other essential pollinators.

The Act establishes a Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Grant Program, administered by the Secretary of the Interior, to fund projects for the conservation of western monarch butterflies and other pollinators within their range. Eligible entities include local and Tribal government agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations with relevant expertise. Project proposals must demonstrate a clear potential to contribute to conservation and recovery, ensuring consultation with relevant authorities and no conflict with food safety measures.

To support these efforts, the bill creates the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund in the U.S. Treasury, authorizing $12.5 million for deposit into the Fund for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Additionally, the Secretary is directed to enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to update and implement the existing Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, with another $12.5 million authorized annually for this purpose during the same fiscal years.

The Secretary is required to provide technical assistance for grant-funded projects and ensure that grant recipients submit regular reports on project progress and success. These reports will be made available to state legislatures and the public. Furthermore, the Secretary must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of western monarch butterflies and evaluating the projects funded under this Act.