[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.


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                    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

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                                 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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