HB 2297 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Allows real property owners building a fence to enter an adjoining property up to 10 feet without liability for trespassing

HB 2297 allows property owners (or their contractors) to enter a neighbor's land up to 10 feet along a shared boundary to build, maintain, or repair a fence enclosing animal areas, without facing trespass charges. This applies only to fence work directly on the boundary line, and owners remain liable for any damage caused to crops or property beyond the 10-foot limit. The bill excludes utility companies, railroads, and accredited zoos/sanctuaries from this provision, and explicitly prohibits entering buildings on neighboring property. It directly affects rural landowners and fence contractors who need to work on boundary lines.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 9, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute Perfected · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was perfected by adding a new line clarifying that the section's restrictions on entering adjoining property do not apply to accredited zoos, wildlife facilities, or animal sanctuaries. This addition ensures that these specific types of facilities are not inadvertently barred from accessing neighboring land for maintenance or repair purposes, aligning the law with industry standards.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was expanded to explicitly include accredited zoological parks, wildlife conservation facilities, and animal sanctuaries as entities exempt from the general prohibition on entering adjoining property.
ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption for zoological parks, wildlife conservation facilities, and animal sanctuaries accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or a similarly recognized body, allowing them to construct, maintain, or repair division fences on property boundary lines.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
8
Committee
9
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Voted Do Pass (S)
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive Session Scheduled - Thursday, April 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Committee
Second read and referred: Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources(S)
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 116 NOES: 35 PRESENT: 1
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Adopted (H)
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 18 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 0
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
Referred: Agriculture(H)
lower
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors