Bill

S 171

An Act to support maternal health

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Becca Rausch

Removes the lesser prairie-chicken from the ESA list and bars any future listing, ending federal protections and habitat safeguards tied to ESA status.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · S 171

Summary: S. 171 — Lesser Prairie-Chicken Non-ESA Status Act (Introduced Jan 21, 2025)

Purpose and intent

The bill would remove the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), including all distinct population segments, from the lists of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.
It would amend the ESA to prohibit the Secretary from making any determination that the lesser prairie-chicken is an endangered or threatened species.
In short, the measure aims to revoke ESA protection for the lesser prairie-chicken and bar future ESA listing determinations for the species.

Key provisions

1) ESA list removal
- The lesser prairie-chicken, including each distinct population segment, would be removed from the ESA lists of endangered and threatened species published under 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

2) Amendment to Section 4 of the ESA (listing determinations)
- Section 4(a) of the ESA would be amended:
- Paragraph (1) would be rewritten so that before subparagraph (A) it reads “Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall” (i.e., suspending the current obligation to list unless the new paragraph (4) applies).
- A new paragraph (4) would be added: “The Secretary may not make a determination under this subsection that the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is an endangered species or a threatened species.”

These changes effectively remove the authority and ability to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the ESA.

Who/what would be affected

Legal protection: The lesser prairie-chicken would lose ESA-listed status and related protections for endangered or threatened species.
Federal actions: ESA-driven protections (e.g., critical habitat designations, recovery plans, and federal regulatory safeguards tied to listing) would no longer apply to the species.
States, landowners, and stakeholders: State wildlife agencies and private landowners could experience changes in regulatory incentives or restrictions related to habitat and development, given the absence of ESA-listed status for this species. Other environmental or wildlife laws (unrelated to the ESA) could still apply.
Conservation programs: Any federal ESA-funded or -mandated recovery efforts for the lesser prairie-chicken would be removed or no longer applicable under the ESA.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced in the Senate on January 21, 2025.
Action to date: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Legislative history: No further actions listed beyond referral as of the introduced date.
Related legislation: Companion bill in the House is HR 587.

Additional notes

The bill targets the lesser prairie-chicken specifically and includes all of its distinct population segments.
This summary reflects the introduced text and sponsor testimony as provided; no amendments or committee reports are included here.

If you’d like, I can prepare a side-by-side comparison with current ESA provisions to highlight the precise regulatory shifts, or outline potential policy implications and stakeholder concerns.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.