21st Century Wildlife Enhancement and Partnership Act

S 4985, the 21st Century Wildlife Enhancement and Partnership Act, creates a new process for established state or multi-state conservation groups (called "established consortia") to challenge proposed listings of species under the Endangered Species Act. If such a group objects to a proposed listing, the Secretary of the Interior must pause the process and form an independent third-party review team within 90 days. This team, composed of 5-9 experts with specific scientific, economic, and conservation expertise, reviews the proposal and makes a binding determination within 180 days on whether the listing should proceed, be terminated, or be remanded. The bill directly affects conservation groups managing candidate species and private landowners potentially impacted by species listings, streamlining objections while requiring public transparency in the review process.