Maybe there was actual legal basis, to set aside the vote. And a petition of 50 signatures, landowners?, to try again.
The misinformation was rampant, for the previous vote. Claims of immediate liability for loose cattle, for a drunk going through a fence, was the classic error. AND the fact the law for "fence-in" already exists, for FM and State highways boundaries.
Somehow neighboring Madison, Grimes, and Washington counties have the fence-in stock law adopted, most for decades, without bankrupting grazing animal owners.

As usual, A&M Agrilife is a great resource:
Landowner's guide to fencing

and a list by county, of Stock Law status-
TX counties Stock Laws

thegoodag said:

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Does anyone know what the current status of the ordinance that passed in 2024? I have not been able to find anything on this since the below article on KBTX


https://www.kbtx.com/2024/11/07/brazos-county-halts-stock-law-implication-due-election-issues/

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - After Brazos County voters overwhelmingly supported stock law propositions A and B, moving forward with the new laws is at a standstill, according to the Brazos County General Counsel.
On Election Day, more than 70% of voters favored enacting stock laws that would require cattle and livestock to be fenced in. Now, propositions A and B are on hold after Brazos County officials got word of some process issues.

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It was an improper vote, so it didn't change anything. They may have a redo in the future.

It was discovered that, per the law, only land owners were allowed to vote on the measure.

Obviously this class distinction in voters is/was not something the elections office was prepared for. It's quite unusual for modern elections. No way after the fact to certify allowed votes from disallowed votes, so the whole thing was discarded.

That's my recollection at least.

I wouldnt say unnecessary. I dont have a state highway, US highway, or FM adjacent to my property at all. Just county roads. Its never fun to wake up with a bull in my front yard, and its happened more than once.

They call that country living …. Some people pay more for that experience!

Ive lived in the country my whole life. Thats not country living. Thats irresponsible ranching.

EBrazosAg said:

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They call that country living …. Some people pay more for that experience!

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The Mayor's longhorns had neighbors and first responders disagreeing...

Responsible ranchers occasionally have cattle get out. Responsible dog owners occasionally have their dogs get out. Irresponsible drunks take out fences and leave and tell no one - I've had that happen 8 times in 25 years. Trees fall in the night. Bulls smell open cows and don't let 5 strands of anything stop them.

We do. And it usually takes an hour or 2 for them to get out there. I have had a family member killed from hitting a black cow on a highway at night. Its easier on my conscious to run the cow back into the pasture I know it came out of (because irresponsible ranchers.. ), than to leave it our for hours for someone to hit.

And with OSR, you get to deal with Robertson and Brazos. "OH, the cow is on Robertson County side- ypu need to call them". "OH, it was from a ranch on the Brazos side? Thats not our problem, im sure the cow will cross back over". Its been like this for 2 weeks.

EBrazosAg said:

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Bovine induced emotional trauma …. It's real.

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Kind of a ****ty remark for a medical professional to make when I just stated I have a close family member who died from hitting a cow at night... but okay?

GSS said:

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EBrazosAg said:

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They call that country living …. Some people pay more for that experience!

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The Mayor's longhorns had neighbors and first responders disagreeing...

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See also a former south Brazos County JP who's cattle got out all the time.... first responders having to corral them because said JP is "eating dinner".

Thats what I dont get. Why are people against this? Why insist there be no consequences for poorly managed property/fence lines?

BQ_90 said:

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histag10 said:

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They do come out- just not with any expediency.

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And this new law changes that, they'll show up faster?

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No, but it penalizes those they are habitually being called out on. If you cant maintain your fence and keep your livestock in, you should be penalized and held responsible. This helps to ensure that happens.

Why would you be against that?

BQ_90 said:

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Who will enforce it, seems like the same ones you're saying you can't get to do what you want now?

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Again- I didnt say they DONT come out. I said they dont do it with expediency. It is a large county with a lot of cattle that get out. That shouldnt happen (and doesn't seem to happen as much in other counties that are even larger with larger livestock numbers). We have a limited number of livestock sheriffs. Maybe monetary penalties will be motivation to those who can't keep their livestock in to do something about it, lessening the burden on our LEOs.

But again- why be against this law?

Mostly because you are for it. But you can't tell me how this would be enforced so passing more laws doesn't change anything if you don't or won't enforce what's already on the books.

Thats the problem- for those of us not on a FM or state/us hwy, there IS nothing on the books. This closes that loophole. It would be enforced the same way it is for those who ARE FM/US hwy/SH, it makes driving county roads safer, and it holds irresponsible land owners accountable.

And if your best argument is "well you are for it so im against it", you are likely a big part of what is currently wrong in our country.

You got that right. I'll keep voting against the karens of the world

Wanting people to keep their livestock on their property and off of public roadways and my property makes me a Karen? Okay, buddy. Go find a cloud to yell at.

I am originally from Washington County and about a year ago found out about the now fences deal here from one of the Brazos Livestock Sheriff deputies. I called in to them because the neighbor down the road had a bunch of cattle out as I was on the way to work. Just wanted to notify them so they could get in contact with the owner. This place has fences that are in bad repair and hay bailing twine holding up some cattle panels and such in places.

I barely got out my mouth where and he said not again. I asked, so you know to this happens quite often. He Said, yep and that's why we need higher fines and such for people like this guy who does not care about his fences or take very good care of his animals.

I told him hey I am calling not just because someone might hit them and get hurt but also he may lose some livestock as well. Which I think he (the owner of said cattle)could care less if they died.

Found out that the guys mothe, r who passed several years before, willed the land to him had in the will she wanted the cattle to die on that place. not sell etc. Another neighbor would take them a round bale every so often but eventually could not do that anymore. They are in decent shape now but this is the person that gives all the others a bad name.

Keep your fence in good repair barring any events that you can not control and your good. But if someone can prove time and time again that you have fences in ill shape and do nothing about it and the Sheriff also has records of these calls then that's on the landowner then.