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S. 478 115th Congress Senate

Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2017

Official title: A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to prohibit baiting exemptions on certain land.

Introduced: March 1, 2017 Introduced by: Tom Cotton Republican · Arkansas See on congress.gov
Animals Agricultural practices and innovationsBirdsHunting and fishingWildlife conservation and habitat protection
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 1, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mar 1, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 1, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2017

This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to revise standards for determining what constitutes baiting for purposes of the prohibition on taking migratory game birds.

A baited area, in the case of waterfowl, cranes, and coots, includes a standing, unharvested crop that has been manipulated through activities such as mowing, discing, or rolling, unless the activities are normal agricultural practices. An area is not considered to be a baited area if it: (1) has been treated with a normal agricultural practice, (2) has standing crops that have not been manipulated, or (3) has standing crops that have been or are flooded.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must submit to the Department of the Interior a report on changes to normal agricultural practices across the range of crops grown by agricultural producers in each region of the United States in which USDA harvest practice recommendations are provided to agricultural producers.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Hyde-Smith, Cindy
Mississippi · Jun 7, 2018
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Mar 1, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 478: Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-478/
MLA
"S. 478: Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-478/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 478, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-478/.
Markdown link
[S. 478: Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-478/)
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