I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2238 
To allow holders of certain grazing permits to make minor range improve-
ments and to require that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 
of the Interior respond to requests for range improvements within 30 
days, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2025 
Mr. VASQUEZ (for himself, Ms. MALOY, and Mr. ZINKE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To allow holders of certain grazing permits to make minor 
range improvements and to require that the Secretary 
of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior respond 
to requests for range improvements within 30 days, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ranching Without Red 
Tape Act of 2025’’. 
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SEC. 2. MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER USFS GRAZ-
ING PERMITS. 
(a) MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS
BY PERMIT-
TEES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations al-
lowing a permittee to carry out a minor range improve-
ment on the lands with respect to which the permittee 
holds a grazing permit if— 
(1) the permittee notifies the applicable Forest 
Service district ranger at least 30 days prior to car-
rying out such minor range improvement; and 
(2) such applicable district ranger— 
(A) approves the minor range improve-
ment; or 
(B) does not respond to the minor range 
improvement. 
(b) RANGE IMPROVEMENTS BY THE SECRETARY.— 
The Secretary, acting through the applicable District 
Ranger, shall— 
(1) respond to a covered request not later than 
30 days after the date on which such request is sub-
mitted; and 
(2) if such response confirms that the Sec-
retary, acting through the applicable District Rang-
er, will carry out the range improvement re-
quested— 
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(A) notify the district office that serves the 
area in which such range improvement will 
occur; and 
(B) expedite the carrying out of such 
range improvement using any available adminis-
trative tools or authorities, including categorical 
exclusions. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CFR TERMS.—The terms ‘‘grazing permit’’, 
‘‘permittee’’, and ‘‘range improvement’’ have the 
meanings given those terms, respectively, in section 
222.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
successor regulations). 
(2) COVERED
REQUEST.—The term ‘‘covered 
request’’ means a request submitted by a permittee 
to the Secretary requesting that the Secretary carry 
out a range improvement. 
(3) MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENT.—The term 
‘‘minor range improvement’’ includes improvements 
to existing fences and fence lines, wells, water pipe-
lines, and stock tanks. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
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SEC. 3. MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER BLM GRAZ-
ING PERMITS. 
(a) MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENTS
BY GRAZING 
PERMIT HOLDERS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue reg-
ulations allowing a grazing permit or lease holder to carry 
out a minor range improvement on the lands with respect 
to which the grazing permit or lease applies if— 
(1) the grazing permit or lease holder notifies 
the applicable Bureau of Land Management district 
or field manager at least 30 days prior to carrying 
out such minor range improvement; and 
(2) such applicable district or field manager— 
(A) approves the minor range improve-
ment; or 
(B) does not respond to the minor range 
improvement. 
(b) RANGE IMPROVEMENTS BY THE SECRETARY.— 
The Secretary, acting through the applicable State Direc-
tor of the Bureau of Land Management, shall— 
(1) respond to a covered request not later than 
30 days after the date on which such request is sub-
mitted; and 
(2) if such response confirms that the Sec-
retary, acting through the applicable State Director 
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of the Bureau of Land Management, will carry out 
the range improvement requested— 
(A) notify the State office that serves the 
area in which such range improvement will 
occur; and 
(B) expedite the carrying out of such 
range improvement using any available adminis-
trative tools or authorities, including categorical 
exclusions. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
REQUEST.—The term ‘‘covered 
request’’ means a request submitted by a grazing 
permit holder to the Secretary requesting that the 
Secretary carry out a range improvement. 
(2) GRAZING
PERMIT
OR
LEASE.—The term 
‘‘grazing permit or lease’’ means a grazing permit or 
lease described in section 4130.2 of title 43, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or success regulations). 
(3) MINOR RANGE IMPROVEMENT.—The term 
‘‘minor range improvement’’ includes improvements 
to existing fences and fence lines, wells, water pipe-
lines, and stock tanks. 
(4) RANGE IMPROVEMENT.—The term ‘‘range 
improvement’’ means a range improvement carried 
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out pursuant to subpart 4120 of title 43, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
Æ 
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