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Senate committee approves printing of bill to codify fence responsibility along federal allotments
Summary
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted to print RS 32,111, a proposal to add language to Title 35 clarifying that private landowners who border federal land are responsible for building and maintaining fences to contain livestock.
The Idaho Senate Agriculture Committee voted to send RS 32,111 to print after a brief presentation and no substantive debate.
Senator Mark Harris, R.-Dist. 35, introduced RS 32,111 as an addition to Title 35 clarifying an existing practice: when private property borders federal land or federal allotments, the private landowner is responsible for building and maintaining fences to keep livestock contained. Harris told the committee the language merely “clarifies what we already knew” following a lawsuit last year that highlighted the absence of explicit statute language.
Committee members asked only procedural questions. Senator Zito sought clarification that the measure is aimed at fencing to “keep cattle or livestock from coming down on [private] ground,” which Harris confirmed. Senator Van Orden moved to send the proposal to print; Senator Taylor seconded the motion. The committee voted in favor and the motion carried; the chair ordered the measure printed.
No public testimony or amendments were recorded during the committee discussion. The measure, as presented, would add statutory language to Title 35; the transcript did not include the draft text or any cross‑references to existing code sections.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion passed on voice vote.
