HR 1897 · ESA Amendments Act of 2025
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1189 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897 and H.R. 5587. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 4690, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587.
- Introduced
- Mar 6, 2025
- Latest action
- Apr 20, 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Bruce Westerman [R-AR-4]
- Policy area
- Environmental Protection
- Cosponsors
- 26
Summary
ESA Amendments Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Endangered Species Act and generally narrows protections provided under the act. The bill directs the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to submit a National Listing Work Plan that establishes a five-year schedule and plan for addressing listing of endangered or threatened species and designation of critical habitats for such species. Under the plan, the bill gives the Services flexibility on the timing of acting on listing petitions and eliminates the requirement for the Services to act within 12 months on listing petitions. The bill limits what land may be designated as critical habitat for an endangered or threatened species. It also limits protections provided to threatened species and allows a state to regulate the recovery of such species if the Services determine the state's proposed recovery strategy would conserve the species. The bill provides statutory authority for Conservation Benefit Agreements, which allow private landowners to voluntarily enter agreements to reduce threats to candidate species in exchange for being allowed to continue their operations if the species is later listed. The bill also modifies the permitting process for certain other voluntary conservation agreements, including by exempting incidental take permits (e.g., permits to harm or kill a species) from environmental review requirements. The bill also makes a variety of other changes to the act, including limiting consultation requirements, judicial review, and awards for attorneys’ fees in certain cases.
Recent actions
- Apr 20, 2026 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1189 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897 and H.R. 5587. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4690, H. Res. 1182, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 4690, H.R. 1897, and H.R. 5587.
- Mar 24, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 489.
- Mar 24, 2026 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-568.
- Mar 24, 2026 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-568.
- Dec 17, 2025 Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 16.
- Dec 17, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Dec 17, 2025 Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged
- Mar 25, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held
Votes
No recorded votes are available for this bill.