This bill requires the Department of the Interior to remove grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the federal endangered species list. This would shift the responsibility for managing the bears from the federal government to the state governments of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
If this becomes law, the Secretary of the Interior must reissue a 2017 rule within 180 days that officially declares these bears are no longer threatened. This change would allow states to set their own rules for bear management, which could include opening regulated hunting seasons.
The bill includes a rare legal rule that prevents the decision from being challenged in court. This means environmental groups or other organizations would be blocked from suing to stop the removal of federal protections once the rule is issued.
Supporters of the bill, including several Senators from Western states, argue that the grizzly population has recovered enough to no longer need federal protection. They believe state officials are better at managing local bear populations and responding to conflicts between bears and humans or livestock.
Impact Analysis
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Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Jan 29, 2025Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
