The LIZARD Act of 2025 would remove the dunes sagebrush lizard from the federal lists of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and amends the ESA to exclude this specific species from the Act’s protections. In short, once enacted, the dunes sagebrush lizard would no longer be eligible for federal protective status under the ESA, and the Secretary would be barred from making any listing determination for this species. The bill also provides a short title (the LIZARD Act) and a tongue-in-cheek long title reflecting its intended purpose. The overall effect is to reduce or eliminate federal legal protections tied to the lizard’s habitat, potentially influencing land- and resource-use decisions in areas where the species lives.
Key Points
- 1Delisting: The dunes sagebrush lizard would be removed from the ESA lists of threatened and endangered species.
- 2New limitation on listing authority: The bill amends Section 4(a) of the ESA to add a new paragraph (4) stating that the Secretary may not make a determination that the dunes sagebrush lizard is threatened or endangered.
- 3Statutory override: The declaration uses a “notwithstanding” framework to ensure delisting and the new restriction apply despite other laws or provisions.
- 4Short and long titles: The bill is titled the Limiting Incredulous Zealots Against Restricting Drilling Act of 2025 (LIZARD Act of 2025).
- 5Specific to this species: The delisting and prohibition on listing determinations apply specifically to the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus).