S. 2980 – Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 7:13 AM UTC

The Wildlife‑Livestock Conflict Resolution Act lets owners voluntarily donate their existing grazing permits or leases on public and National Forest System lands in New Mexico. Once donated, the permits are terminated and grazing on those lands ends permanently, unless other overlapping permits remain. The law caps donations at ten permits or leases per fiscal year and is intended to reduce conflicts between wildlife and livestock.

Key Provisions

The Secretaries of the Interior (for public land) and Agriculture (for National Forest System land) may accept donations of valid grazing permits or leases in New Mexico starting fiscal year 2022.
Donated permits or leases are terminated, ending grazing on the donated land permanently, except where other valid permits cover the same land.
If overlapping permits exist, total grazing on the land cannot exceed the average actual grazing use from the five years before the donation.
No more than ten permits or leases may be donated in any fiscal year.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Failed to report favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

July 21, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 7, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

October 7, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee

June 7, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Failed to report favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

July 21, 2022

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 2980 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Joe Manchin IIID-WV · Jul 21, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print the following letter in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued October 7, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2980

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 7, 2021

Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize the voluntary donation of grazing permits and leases in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Resolution Act.

2.

Donation of grazing permits and leases

(a)

In general

Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land, and the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land (referred to in this section as the Secretary concerned), shall accept the donation of any valid existing leases or permits authorizing grazing on public land or National Forest System land in the State of New Mexico.

(b)

Termination

With respect to each permit or lease donated under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall—

(1)

terminate the grazing permit or lease; and

(2)

except as provided in subsection (c), ensure a permanent end to grazing on the land covered by the permit or lease.

(c)

Common allotments

If the land covered by a permit or lease donated under subsection (a) is also covered by another valid grazing permit or lease that is not donated under that subsection, the Secretary concerned shall not allow the total grazing use on the land to exceed the average actual grazing use under the other valid grazing permit or lease for the 5-year period preceding the date of donation.

(d)

Limitation

Not greater than 10 permits or leases may be donated under subsection (a) in each fiscal year.