Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Gathering Alligator Treatment, Oversight, and Response Act of 2026” or the “GATOR Act of 2026”.
Gathering Alligator Treatment, Oversight, and Response Act of 2026
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study regarding certain reptiles, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Study regarding certain reptiles
In general— The Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with the Secretary and the heads of wildlife agencies of covered States the Comptroller General and Secretary determine relevant, shall carry out a study regarding the effect of the treatment by the Secretary pursuant to section 4(e)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(e)(A)) of covered reptiles as threatened species by reason of similarity of appearance to a species listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under section 4 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1533) on the size of the population of covered reptiles, including whether and, if so, how, such treatment has—
affected the management programs of covered reptiles of covered States;
resulted in—
more than a complete recovery of the American alligator; and
the common caiman or brown caiman becoming an invasive species in Florida; and
made it more difficult for nuisance American alligators or invasive common caimans or brown caimans to be removed from waterways in or around residential or commercial areas than before such treatment was implemented.
Definitions— In this section:
Covered reptile— The term covered reptile means—
the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis);
the common caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus); and
the brown caiman (Caiman crocodilus odilus fuscus; Caiman crocodilus chiapasius).
Covered State— The term covered State means a State that has at least 1 population of a covered reptile located within the State.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.