SLC Times

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has reintroduced the Native Species Protection Act in an effort to give states more control over managing wildlife within their borders. The bill, cosponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), aims to shift away from the current federal approach under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“It's time to pivot from the one-size-fits-all approach of the Endangered Species Act,” said Sen. Lee. “We need a better approach to protect endangered and threatened species, and the Native Species Protection Act proposes a solution where conservation is local, sensible, and leaps beyond the inefficiencies plaguing the ESA.”

The Native Species Protection Act seeks to amend the ESA by categorizing noncommercial species that do not cross state lines as intrastate species. This change would exempt these species from the regulatory oversight of the ESA, granting more authority to state and local governments in conservation efforts.

The bill's emphasis on empowering local authorities reflects a shift towards more decentralized wildlife management. By allowing states to take the lead in protecting native species within their boundaries, the Native Species Protection Act aims to streamline conservation efforts and address the shortcomings of the current federal approach.

For those interested, a one-pager on the bill can be found here, and the full bill text is available here.