Grasslands Grazing Act of 2025
Summary
The Grasslands Grazing Act of 2025 would amend federal law to provide ranchers who graze livestock on national grasslands with the same legal protections and due process rights currently available to those with permits on other federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and National Forest Service. Currently, national grasslands permittees lack certain protections that other federal grazing permittees enjoy.
If enacted, the bill would provide ranchers with stable 10-year grazing agreements and permits, the ability to renew permits with preference positions, written notice of violations with opportunity to correct them before cancellation, and a requirement for two years' notice before permit cancellation except in emergencies. Supporters argue this would provide certainty for ranching operations, particularly important in western states where federal land ownership is extensive and grazing on federal grasslands is essential for livestock production at scale.
The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote. It has faced some opposition from environmental groups concerned about grazing impacts on public lands.