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ESA Amendments Act of 2025

Introduced: May 20, 2025 Introduced by: Westerman, Bruce Republican · Arkansas See on congress.gov
White House position
Supports Statement of Administration Policy · Trump administration · Apr 21, 2026 Read the SAP
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
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
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-568.
Mar 24, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 489.
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
Mar 18, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Mar 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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. 

What's happening now April 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.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Lobbying activity 174

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 174 filings →
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1897/
MLA
"H.R. 1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1897/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1897, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1897/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1897: ESA Amendments Act of 2025](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-1897/)
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