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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ron Stephens

HR 281 allows states to manage the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear population, removing it from federal protection, impacting conservation efforts in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

House Read and Adopted

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HR 281

Title: Grizzly Bear State Management Act

Status: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources (H. Rept. 119-328)

Introduced: January 09, 2025

Primary Sponsor: Representative Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY)

Cosponsors: Ryan K. Zinke, Pete Stauber, Russ Fulcher, Troy Downing

Related Bills: S 316 (companion bill)

Purpose of the Legislation

The Grizzly Bear State Management Act aims to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule that would remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. This action is intended to affirm state management of the species following its recovery.

Key Provisions

Reissuance of Final Rule:

The Secretary of the Interior is required to reissue the final rule titled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife" within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
This reissuance will occur without regard to other legal provisions that typically govern such actions.

Judicial Review:

The reissuance of the final rule will not be subject to judicial review, meaning that the decision cannot be challenged in court.

Background and Need for Legislation

The grizzly bear was first listed as a threatened species in 1975 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A recovery plan was established in 1982, with the GYE designated as a distinct population segment in 2007.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) delisted the GYE population in 2017, but this decision was overturned in 2018 due to concerns about inadequate protections and environmental factors.

As of 2021, the estimated population of grizzly bears in the GYE was 1,069, significantly above the recovery goal of 500 bears.

The FWS has indicated that the GYE population may not be considered "discrete" due to its expansion into other recovery areas, complicating delisting efforts.

Impact

States Affected: The bill primarily impacts the states within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, which have developed management plans for grizzly bears.

Conservation Efforts: The legislation is seen as a response to federal decisions that some states believe undermine their conservation efforts and management authority over recovered species.

Timeline: If enacted, the Secretary of the Interior must act within 180 days, potentially altering the management landscape for grizzly bears in the GYE.

Legislative Actions

October 3, 2025: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources.

July 15, 2025: Ordered to be reported in the nature of a substitute.

January 9, 2025: Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

This summary provides an overview of HR 281, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, and potential impacts on wildlife management and state-federal relations regarding conservation efforts.

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