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HR 587

Carrollton High School debate team; winning the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and, most recently, 2025 GFCA State Debate Championship; commend

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jutt Howard and 3 co-sponsors

Permanently remove the lesser prairie‑chicken from the ESA and bar future federal listing, ending federal protections and mitigation duties for the species.

House Read and Adopted
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 587

Summary — H.R. 587

Note on conflicting text: The materials provided include two different items labeled “H.R. 587.” One is a short, nonbinding state-style resolution congratulating the Carrollton High School debate team; the other is federal statutory language that would remove the lesser prairie‑chicken from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) lists and bar the Secretary of the Interior from listing it in the future. Below are concise summaries of both components, followed by procedural and impact notes.

1) Federal statutory language — Lesser prairie‑chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)

Main purpose

Permanently remove the lesser prairie‑chicken from the federal lists of threatened and endangered species and prohibit the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (or the relevant agency under the ESA) from subsequently determining the species to be threatened or endangered under ESA section 4(a).

Key provisions

  • Deletes the lesser prairie‑chicken (including each distinct population segment) from the ESA lists of threatened and endangered species.
  • Amends ESA section 4(a) to add an exception preventing the Secretary from making a determination that the lesser prairie‑chicken is threatened or endangered (i.e., a statutory bar on future federal listing under that subsection).

Who/what would be affected

  • The lesser prairie‑chicken would lose federal ESA protections (e.g., protection from “take” under Section 9, designation of critical habitat, Section 7 federal consultation duties).
  • Federal permitting and project review for activities affecting the species would no longer trigger ESA restrictions or mitigation obligations.
  • Landowners, energy and agricultural industries, state wildlife agencies, and conservation organizations in the species’ range (parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, depending on historic and current range) would be directly affected.
  • State and private conservation programs could still act, but federal enforcement and protections under the ESA would be removed.

Potential implications

  • Reduced federal regulatory constraints on development and land-use activities in the species’ range; increased reliance on state, local, or voluntary conservation measures.
  • Conservation groups may challenge delisting or the statutory prohibition in court; potential conflicts with scientific determinations and administrative law principles.
  • Long-term species viability risks if federal protections are removed without durable, effective alternative conservation measures.

2) Concurrent resolution — Carrollton High School debate team (congratulatory)

Main purpose

A nonbinding resolution congratulating Carrollton High School’s debate team for winning the GFCA State Debate Championship in 2021–2025 and noting the program’s 15 state championships.

Key provisions

  • Expresses congratulations and best wishes.
  • Directs the Clerk of the House to make an appropriate copy of the resolution available for the team.

Who is affected

  • Carrollton High School debate team, coaches, and supporting community — purely ceremonial and honorific; carries no legal or regulatory effect.

Procedural status & sponsors

  • Introduced: January 21, 2025.
  • Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources (per record).
  • House actions show the measure was “Read and Adopted” and “Adopted” on March 31, 2025; reported enrolled March 31 (per the provided timeline). (If two separate measures, the adoption likely pertains to the resolution; the federal statutory delisting would normally require passage of Congress and enactment to become law.)
  • Sponsors (listed): multiple House members (Tracey Mann, Tyler Paul Smith, Justin Howard, Lynn Smith, David Huddleston listed as primary sponsors and many cosponsors). Companion bill: S.171.

Notes for readers

  • The statutory text would create a permanent, statutory bar to federal ESA listing of the lesser prairie‑chicken — a noteworthy departure from ordinary administrative delisting procedures.
  • Because the provided packet combines a ceremonial state-style resolution and substantive federal statutory text under the same bill number, confirm in official congressional records which text is the enacted/active measure before relying on its legal effect.

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

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