May 7, 2025
Mr. Rounds introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish oversight mediation committees to help resolve property boundary disputes regarding National Forest System land, 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 Fence Line Fairness Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. National Forest System oversight mediation committees
(a) In general
The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the Secretary), in consultation with State departments of agriculture and State departments of natural resources, shall establish in each State in which National Forest System land is located an oversight mediation committee (referred to in this section as a mediation committee) to help resolve disputes between private landowners and the Secretary regarding the location of boundaries between National Forest System land and private land.
(b) Composition
(1) In general
A mediation committee shall be composed of—
(A)
2 individuals who are private, active farmers or ranchers from the State in which the mediation committee is established, to be appointed by the Secretary; and
(B)
3 individuals who are private, active farmers or ranchers from the State in which the mediation committee is established, to be appointed by the applicable State department of agriculture or State department of natural resources.
(2) Terms
A member of a mediation committee—
(A)
shall be appointed for a term of 5 years; and
(B)
may serve for not more than 2 terms.
(c) Notification
If there is a dispute regarding the location of a boundary between National Forest System land and private land, the Secretary shall—
(1)
notify the private landowner of the dispute not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary becomes aware of the dispute; and
(2)
provide to the private landowner the option to use the mediation committee process described in subsection (d) to help resolve the dispute.
(d) Dispute resolution process
(1) Referral
If a private landowner notifies the Secretary that the landowner chooses to use the mediation committee process referred to in subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall refer the dispute to the applicable mediation committee not later than 60 days after the date on which the private landowner notifies the Secretary.
(2) Process
With respect to a dispute referred to a mediation committee under paragraph (1), the mediation committee shall—
(A)
hold private hearings regarding the dispute to analyze information and testimony from the private landowner and appropriate officials of the Forest Service;
(B)
provide to the parties to the dispute described in subparagraph (A) recommendations for actions that can be taken by the parties to resolve the dispute; and
(C)
submit a report describing findings of fact regarding the dispute and recommendations described in subparagraph (B) to—
(i)
the Secretary;
(ii)
the Chief of the Forest Service;
(iii)
the head of the applicable State department of agriculture;
(iv)
the head of the applicable State department of natural resources;
(v)
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and
(vi)
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.
(3) Timeline
Not later than 180 days after the date on which a dispute is referred to a mediation committee under paragraph (1), the mediation committee shall commence holding hearings under paragraph (2)(A).