H.R. 2238: Ranching Without Red Tape Act of 2025

This bill, known as the "Ranching Without Red Tape Act of 2025," aims to streamline the process for holders of grazing permits to make minor improvements on lands where they have grazing rights. Here are the key elements of the bill:

Overview of the Bill

• The bill intends to allow grazing permit holders to carry out minor range improvements without going through extensive bureaucratic procedures.
• It sets specific timelines for government responses to requests submitted by permit holders.

Minor Range Improvements

Under the bill, both the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be required to implement regulations that facilitate these improvements. The main points include:

For U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Permits

• Permit holders can carry out minor range improvements after notifying the appropriate USFS district ranger at least 30 days in advance.
• Improvements can proceed if the district ranger either approves the request or does not respond within the specified time frame.
• The Secretary of Agriculture must respond to requests for improvements within 30 days and expedite the implementation if approved.

For Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Permits

• Grazing permit or lease holders must also notify the applicable BLM district manager 30 days prior to initiating any minor range improvements.
• Similar to USFS, these improvements can proceed with approval from the district manager or if there is no response within the set timeframe.
• The Secretary of the Interior must similarly respond to improvement requests within 30 days and expedite implementation as necessary.

Definitions and Scope

The bill defines several important terms to clarify its provisions:

• Minor range improvement: These improvements include work on existing fences, water sources such as wells and stock tanks, and water pipelines.
• Covered request: A request made by permit holders to the Secretary requesting a range improvement.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Agriculture for USFS matters and the Secretary of the Interior for BLM matters.

Goals of the Bill

The overall goal of the Ranching Without Red Tape Act of 2025 is to simplify the process for ranchers, allowing them to address maintenance and enhancement of grazing lands in a more timely and less bureaucratic manner. This change is seen as beneficial for ranchers by enabling them to improve resources quickly, which could impact livestock management and overall ranch productivity.

Relevant Companies

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