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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri Department of Agriculture to establish a controlled livestock grazing permit program under House Bill 2485
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsors: Emily Weber and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Missouri lawmakers are considering House Bill 2485, which directs the Department of Agriculture to create a that sets operational standards, permit requirements, and fees for using animals to clear vegetation. The bill limits grazing on any designated plot to once per year for a maximum of 30 consecutive days, establishes containment and noise regulations, and creates a dedicated state treasury fund for program administration.
Contractors utilizing livestock for vegetation clearing must acquire state permits, maintain required bonds or insurance, and comply with specific animal care, noise, and neighbor notification standards while being exempt from standard chapter 272 fencing requirements.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Controlled livestock grazing contractors
Contractors must obtain permits, pay fees, maintain bonds or insurance, and adhere to operational, containment, noise, and animal care standards.
Adjacent landowners
Landowners adjacent to grazing operations are entitled to receive specific notifications regarding the operations.
Key Facts
- The Department of Agriculture must establish a controlled livestock grazing program to provide operational standards for clearing vegetation with livestock.
- Grazing operations on any designated plot of land are limited to once per calendar year for no more than thirty consecutive days.
- Contractors must obtain a permit, pay fees, and meet insurance or bond requirements established by the department.
- The program establishes requirements for authorized livestock structures, enclosures, containment, animal care, noise regulation, and neighbor notifications.
Show all 7 facts
- Temporary structures or enclosures placed for controlled livestock grazing are exempt from standard chapter 272 fencing requirements.
- A dedicated 'Controlled Livestock Grazing Program Fund' is created in the state treasury to hold fees and fund program implementation without reverting to general revenue.
- Rulemaking authority granted under this section is subject to chapter 536 provisions, and rules proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, are invalid if legislative review powers are held unconstitutional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can controlled livestock grazing be used on a specific plot of land?
Where do permit fees collected under the program go?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 17, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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