H.R. 1150

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1150 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1150

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exclude certain 
populations of the lake sturgeon from the authority of such Act.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 7, 2025

Mr. Wied (for himself, Mr. Grothman, and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources

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A BILL

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to exclude certain 
populations of the lake sturgeon from the authority of such Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Sturgeon Protected and Exempt from 
Absurd Regulations Act of 2025'' or the ``SPEAR Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN POPULATIONS OF LAKE STURGEON UNDER 
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) holds a 
special place in the cultural fabric of Wisconsin, especially 
for the communities located on Lake Winnebago and the Winnebago 
System.
(2) Through the staunch dedication and close public-private 
collaboration of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 
Sturgeon for Tomorrow, the Sturgeon Advisory Committee, the 
Sturgeon Guard, and local fishing, sportsmen, and conservation 
groups, Wisconsin has become the global leader in lake sturgeon 
management.
(3) As a result of these efforts and the development and 
implementation of a comprehensive management plan, the Lake 
Winnebago system is home to a thriving lake sturgeon 
population, one of the largest in North America, and the most 
successful sustainable sturgeon fisheries in the world.
(4) An integral component of this management plan is the 
annual sturgeon spearing season that is meticulously managed 
and provides the data necessary, along with data from detailed 
spawning assessments, to maintain an accurate account of 
population levels needed and allowable maximum harvest rates to 
ensure the health and sustainability of the species.
(5) Mandatory registration stations are established to 
collect detailed data on the length, weight, sex, and tag 
status of each harvested fish and ensure strict seasonal 
harvest caps are followed.
(6) The spearing season has grown into a unique cultural 
event filled with strong traditions and community ties, drawing 
participants from throughout Wisconsin and many other States, 
and is crucial to the livelihoods of local communities and 
small businesses near the Winnebago System who rely on the 
annual season.
(7) It is vital that this long-standing and cherished 
tradition be protected and that Wisconsin is allowed to 
continue its successful Winnebago System and statewide 
management of lake sturgeon.
(b) Exclusion From Listing.--Section 4(a) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The Secretary shall by 
regulation'' and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph 
(4), the Secretary shall by regulation''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Applicability to Lake Sturgeon.--The Secretary may not make a 
determination under this subsection that any population of the lake 
sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Wisconsin is threatened or 
endangered.''.
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