119-hr774

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 774 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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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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