H.R. 774

119 HR 774 IH: Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-01-28
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 774  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act   or the   PASTURES Act  .
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.