SENATE BILL: Freedom to Roam Act (Failed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

To codify into law the right of all people to roam and walk the Atalsian countryside, as well as to establish some reasonable limitations on this right

Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress Assembled,

Section 1: Name
1. This bill may be referred to as the "Freedom to Roam Act"

Section 2: The Right to Roam
1. Every person in the Republic of Atlasia shall have a recognized right to roam and travel across the country, including through means of transport such as by foot, by bicycle, on horseback or with the use of canoes
2. The Atlasian federal government may not impede entrance to federally owned lands other than active military bases, unless there is a compelling national security reason or public interest reason
3. Land owners may impede entrance to areas used actively used for housing, farming or livestock, but they may not impede entrance to any undeveloped or unimproved pieces of land nor to any rivers or lakes in the property, unless said lakes are completely surrounded by areas used actively for the purposes described before.
4. Land Owners shall clearly mark the perimeter of the areas used actively for housing, farming or livestock, as well as provide a path around the areas of their property used for said purposes.
5. People roaming on private property or federal land may not perform any sort of commercial activity while roaming
6. People roaming on private property shall not be allowed to hunt, fish or pick any wild fruits, without the consent of the owner. This right may also be restricted on federal lands (including but not limited to national parks) by the department responsible of internal policy.
7. People roaming shall have the right to set up a camp and sleep for 1 night, but may not sleep in the same spot, nor any spot in a 1 mile radius from their last camping spot, for consecutive nights
8. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to legalize or otherwise enable destructive activities towards nature, including but not limited to damaging trees or bushes, damaging the habitats and nests of wildlife or polluting nature

Section 3: Enactment
1. This bill shall become enacted immediately after passage

Sponsor: Tack50
Senate Designation: SB 25:08

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Initial Debate Period, sponsor advocacy time

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why would the house need to fix it, we can amend in the Senate too Tack, before we pass something?


I have some concerns about clause three. And not just with the whole "areas used actively used" wording issues, which need to be fixed here not in the House. When I was House Speaker, I loathed receiving trashy Senate bills.

Beyond that concern, I am worried about the risk of damage to private property that could occur via littering, arson, negligence or polluting. The bill does a hand wave with number 8, but even if that is the case there is the issue of liability and also recouping loss. Just because the bill says it is still not allowed, we aren't providing any assurance that any damage will be fixed or repaired or monetary value of such forfeited.

Since we are forcing them to allow these people onto their land with little in the way of tangible or concrete means to protect such people, this means that such land could be damaged or rendered unusable down the road and thus cost the owner lost earning from said land, or value of said land at a future sale.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am discussing the possibility of an amendment to Section 8 with top men on this subject, but it might not be practical to offer that until I get home tomorrow since I have to get up earlier than normal tomorrow.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

To codify into law the right of all people to roam and walk the Atlasian countryside, as well as to establish some reasonable limitations on this right

Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress Assembled,

Section 1: Name
1. This bill may be referred to as the "Freedom to Roam Act"

Section 2: The Right to Roam
1. Every person in the Republic of Atlasia shall have a recognized right to roam and travel across the country, including through means of transport such as by foot, by bicycle, on horseback or with the use of canoes
2. The Atlasian federal government may not impede entrance to federally owned lands other than active military bases, unless there is a compelling national security reason or public interest reason
3. Land owners may impede entrance to areas used actively used for housing, farming or livestock, but they may not impede entrance to any undeveloped or unimproved pieces of land nor to any rivers or lakes in the property, unless said lakes are completely surrounded by areas used actively for the purposes described before.
4. Land Owners shall clearly mark the perimeter of the areas used actively for housing, farming or livestock, as well as provide a path around the areas of their property used for said purposes.
5. People roaming on private property or federal land may not perform any sort of commercial activity while roaming
6. People roaming on private property shall not be allowed to hunt, fish or pick any wild fruits, without the consent of the owner. This right may also be restricted on federal lands (including but not limited to national parks) by the department responsible of internal policy.
7. People roaming shall have the right to set up a camp and sleep for 1 night, but may not sleep in the same spot, nor any spot in a 1 mile radius from their last camping spot, for consecutive nights
8. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to legalize or otherwise enable destructive activities towards nature, including but not limited to damaging trees or bushes, damaging the habitats and nests of wildlife or polluting nature. People roaming shall also be subject to financial liability for any of the above mentioned destructive activities.

Section 3: Enactment
1. This bill shall become enacted immediately after passage

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment is adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So we done here?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So if I understand correctly the camping provision should be removed?

Is this an amendment from either you or Jimmy that is expected?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So if I understand correctly the camping provision should be removed?

Is this an amendment from either you or Jimmy that is expected?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A vote is now open on the Amendment, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on Amendment 25:16 by Jimmy:

Aye (3): Jimmy, LT and NC Yankee
Nay (3): Devout Centrist, Tack50 and YE
Abstain (0):

Didn't Vote (0):

This amendment is tied and thus the VP needs to break the tie.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has been rejected.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Are there any further amendments?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So is there going to be more amendments here?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So does the sponsor wish to motion for cloture?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A vote is now open on the cloture motion to end debate and proceed to a final vote. Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Abstain

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on Cloture on the Freedom to Roam Act:

Aye (1): Tack50
Nay (2): Jimmy and LT
Abstain (1): NC Yankee

Didn't Vote (2): Devout Centrist and YE

This motion has failed.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Jimmy do you have another amendment?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Jimmy do you have another amendment?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

For the love of crap

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

For the love of crap

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So next steps, further amendments cloture motions?