Bill Details
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This bill would limit federal agencies from fining or otherwise penalizing livestock owners if their animals graze on certain federal lands where grazing had been allowed after the bill becomes law but was later banned, as long as there is no fence in place to keep the animals out. It would apply to specific federal lands that border private property and would make the federal government responsible for the cost of building or maintaining fences meant to block grazing. In simple terms, the bill shifts more responsibility to the government when grazing rules change on the land and livestock from nearby private property wander onto those areas.
- The rule would apply to certain National Forest System lands, land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal public lands.
- The lands must have allowed grazing under a permit or lease after the bill’s enactment and later been closed to grazing.
- The bill covers common livestock such as cattle, bison, horses, sheep, and goats.
- If a fence is needed to stop grazing on these lands, the federal agency in charge would have to pay for building or maintaining it.
Official Summaries
Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act or the PASTURES Act
This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior from imposing penalties on livestock owners for grazing on certain public lands.
Under the bill, covered lands are National Forest System lands, lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or public lands (1) on which grazing is allowed by a permit or lease on or after the date of the bill's enactment and is then subsequently prohibited, and (2) that border private property.
Specifically, the departments may not impose a penalty on an owner of livestock (including cattle, bison, horses, sheep, and goats) for grazing on covered lands that do not have a fence to prevent grazing.
The bill specifies that USDA or Interior, depending on the covered land, is responsible for any expense related to the construction or maintenance of a fence for the prevention of grazing by livestock.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 774 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 774
To limit the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary
of the Interior to penalize an owner of livestock for grazing by such
livestock on certain Federal lands on which grazing is permitted on or
after the date of enactment of this Act and subsequently prohibited,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2025
Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To limit the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary
of the Interior to penalize an owner of livestock for grazing by such
livestock on certain Federal lands on which grazing is permitted on or
after the date of enactment of this Act and subsequently prohibited,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Protecting Agricultural Spaces
Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act'' or the ``PASTURES Act''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON PENALTIES FOR GRAZING LIVESTOCK ON CERTAIN
COVERED LANDS.
(a) Limitation.--The Secretary concerned may not impose a penalty
on an owner of livestock for grazing by such livestock on covered lands
on which a fence for the prevention of such grazing does not exist.
(b) Fence Expenses.--The Secretary concerned shall be responsible
for any expense related to the construction or maintenance of any fence
constructed or maintained on covered lands for the prevention of
grazing by livestock on such covered lands.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered lands.--The term ``covered lands'' means
National Forest System lands, lands administered by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, or public lands--
(A) on which grazing is permitted by grazing permit
or lease on or after the date of enactment of this Act
and subsequently prohibited; and
(B) that borders private property.
(2) Grazing permit or lease.--The term ``grazing permit or
lease'' means--
(A) a grazing permit as such term is defined in
section 222.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations
(or successor regulations);
(B) a cooperative agreement referred to in section
29.2 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations) that permits grazing; or
(C) a grazing permit or lease described in section
4130.2 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations).
(3) Livestock.--The term ``livestock'' includes cattle,
bison, horses, sheep, and goats.
(4) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
(16 U.S.C. 1609).
(5) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the
meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
(6) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to
National Forest System lands; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to
public lands and lands administered by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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