LIZARD Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2573
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-01: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-06T14:21:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling Act of 2025" or the "LIZARD Act of 2025," aims to remove the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus) from the federal lists of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. It also seeks to permanently exclude this species from future protections under the ESA, preventing it from being relisted.
Key Provisions
- Immediate Delisting: The bill removes the dunes sagebrush lizard from any existing ESA lists of threatened or endangered species, effective regardless of other laws.
- Amendment to the ESA: It modifies Section 4(a) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) by:
- Adding language that limits the Secretary of the Interior's authority to list species, except as specified for this lizard.
- Prohibiting the Secretary from ever determining that the dunes sagebrush lizard is endangered or threatened in the future.
- The changes apply specifically to this lizard species, found in the shinnery dune habitats of Texas and New Mexico.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under the current ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) can list or delist species based on scientific assessments of their risk of extinction. This bill overrides that process by mandating delisting without requiring new evidence and barring future listings outright for this species.
- It introduces a species-specific exemption, which is unusual as the ESA typically applies uniformly to all species based on biological criteria, not targeted exclusions via congressional action.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USFWS would lose authority to enforce ESA protections for this lizard, such as habitat conservation or recovery plans, potentially reducing administrative burdens but limiting tools for biodiversity management.
- On Citizens: Environmental advocates and conservationists may face challenges in protecting the lizard's habitat, while landowners, ranchers, and energy developers in affected areas could see fewer restrictions on land use. This might accelerate development in sensitive dune ecosystems.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the dunes sagebrush lizard is endemic to the U.S. and not involved in cross-border conservation treaties.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Energy Industry: Oil and gas companies, particularly those operating in the Permian Basin (Texas and New Mexico), benefit from reduced regulatory hurdles on drilling and development in lizard habitats.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity or Sierra Club may oppose the bill, as it weakens protections for a species considered at risk due to habitat loss.
- Local Communities and Landowners: Residents and farmers in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico could experience changes in land management rules, potentially easing economic activities but raising concerns about ecological degradation.
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the USFWS and Department of the Interior, which must implement the delisting and adjust ongoing programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill could invite lawsuits challenging Congress's authority to override ESA scientific processes, potentially testing the balance between legislative intent and administrative discretion under the Administrative Procedure Act. It sets a precedent for species-specific carve-outs, which might encourage similar bills for other controversial species.
- Constitutional: No direct constitutional issues are raised in the text, but it could indirectly implicate the Takings Clause (Fifth Amendment) if delisting leads to disputes over property rights or compensation for prior ESA-related restrictions.
- Political: As a targeted amendment introduced by Republican representatives from energy-producing states, it reflects debates over balancing environmental protection with economic development, particularly in fossil fuel regions; passage would signal a shift toward deregulation in wildlife policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-01: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-01 — PDF (2 pages)