H.R. 774
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
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 · Sponsor: Ms. Hageman
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the or the "Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act" or "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) 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) 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) The term includes cattle, bison, horses, sheep, and goats. livestock
(4) 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) 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) 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.