sovereign authority; endangered species act

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Arizona Sovereign Authority Act

This bill prohibits Arizona and its agencies from using state resources to enforce or cooperate with the federal Endangered Species Act, except for the livestock loss program.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new section, 1-273, to Title 1 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.
• Prohibits Arizona and its agencies from using state money or workers to enforce or help with the federal Endangered Species Act.
• Exempts the livestock loss program run by the Arizona Livestock Loss Board from this ban.

Who It Names or Affects

• The State of Arizona
• Arizona's government agencies and political subdivisions
• Employees, contractors, and departments like the Arizona Game and Fish Department

Terms To Know

Endangered Species Act

A federal law that protects animals and plants in danger of extinction.

Anticommandeering

The idea that the state does not have to follow orders from the federal government if it goes against state laws or rights.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if someone breaks this law.
• Does not explain how Arizona will handle endangered species without using federal guidelines.
• The bill's full text and effects are limited to the State of Arizona.

Official Summary Text

HB2161 - sovereign authority; endangered species act

Current Bill Text

HB2161 - 572R - I Ver

PREFILED��� JAN 08 2026

REFERENCE TITLE:
sovereign authority; endangered species act

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2161

Introduced by

Representative
Diaz

AN
ACT

amending Title
1, chapter 2, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 1-273;
relating to SOVEREIGN authority.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 1, chapter 2, article 4,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 1-273, to read:

START_STATUTE
1-273.

Sovereign authority; natural resources; anticommandeering

Pursuant to article II, section 3, Constitution
of Arizona, this state
, any
agency
or political subdivision of this state
and any employee
of this state or any
agency or political subdivision of
this state, including the arizona game and fish department and the department's
employees and contractors, acting in the employee's official capacity may not
use any personnel or financial resources to enforce, administer or
cooperate with either of the following
federal actions or
programs:

1. the ENDANGERED species act of 1973
(P.L. 93-205; 87 Stat. 884; 16 United States code sections 1531 through
1544).� This paragraph does not apply to the livestock loss program that is
administered and enforced by the Arizona livestock loss board.

2. The incidental take permit program
pursuant to the endangered species act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205; 87 Stat.
884; 16 United States Code sections 1536 through 1539).
END_STATUTE