Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025

S. 316 would direct the Department of the Interior to remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The bill would reinstate a 2017 rule that previously delisted these bears and would prevent judicial review of the reissuance. If enacted, this would transfer management authority from federal agencies to states like Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

Proponents argue that the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has exceeded its original recovery goal of 500 bears and now numbers over 1,100, indicating successful recovery. They contend that state management would better address concerns about human-wildlife conflicts and livestock predation in the region.

Opponents contend that the bill would bypass environmental and legal safeguards normally required under the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws. They argue that with only about 2,000 grizzlies remaining in the lower 48 states and occupying less than 4 percent of their historic range, federal protections remain necessary. The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.