House Natural Resources Committee considers the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025
Author
Zeke Lee
Joe Jackson
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On March 6, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) introduced the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897), which makes several important changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and addresses key county concerns. The Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee held a legislative hearing which included H.R. 1897 on March 25.
What does the bill change about the ESA?
The legislation makes impactful changes to the ESA, including:
- Amends the definition of “best scientific and commercial data available” to include data submitted by county, state or tribal governments
- Allows states to develop and submit recovery strategies for species that are candidates for listing or currently listed
- Replicates on private lands language from the Sikes Act, which provides additional regulatory certainty that critical habitat will not be designated if a landowner is working to implement a species conservation strategy
- Creates additional transparency during the listing process by requiring analysis of the economic and national security impacts of all species listing and critical habitat designation
- Places a cap on attorney’s fees that can be awarded in successful litigation in line with other legislation
- Restores Congressional intent by clarifying that federal agencies do not have the ability to create regulations based on the potential of impacting species
What are the potential impacts for counties?
The bill’s broad changes to the ESA will address key county concerns, including:
- Requiring impact assessments to ensure that listing decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of the local context
- Encouraging state-led recovery strategies to allow for conservation strategies tailored to particular state and local characteristics and challenges
- Greater recognition when submitting data related to planned species and habitat designations, reinforcing the intergovernmental partnership between federal, state and local officials
NACo will continue to provide periodic updates as this vital legislation advances.
Advocacy
NACo files comments supporting new Endangered Species Act implementation rules
On February 5, NACo submitted comments in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s final regulations on interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act.
Related News
County Countdown – Dec. 1, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Counties Celebrate Key Permitting Inclusions in SPEED Act
NACo issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which advanced out of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on November 20.
House Natural Resources Committee advances Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
On November 20, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which would make important changes to streamline federal permitting and strengthen county involvement in decision-making by amending the National Environmental Policy Act. Counties support commonsense permitting reforms, and NACo secured provisions in the SPEED Act that would guarantee counties a seat at the table during federal environmental reviews.