Tracking The Capitols

Tracking the Capitols is a weekly source of legislation currently being tracked by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation state policy team to keep you informed of the most pertinent and timely state legislation affecting hunting, recreational fishing and shooting and trapping and other conservation issues. Inclusion in Tracking the Capitols does not necessarily constitute support or opposition to legislation by CSF and/or the CSF States Program. The bills noted in this email represent only a fraction of the legislation that CSF's States Program is monitoring on a day-to-day basis.

 

Please visit our website for day-to-day updates by CSF's State Program Team on important sportsmen's legislation. To view past bills, please visit the Tracking the Capitols Archive under the Media Room tab on the CSF website.

 

Note: In bold are sponsors who are members of their respective Sportsmen's Legislative Caucus.
 
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Working with  
State Legislators
 
Updates For The Week of  

March 18, 2013    

Recently Introduced Bills:

 

Arkansas H 1459
Intro Date: 02/22/2013
Sponsor: Representative Micah Neal
Issue Brief: Hunter Education
Summary: Allows the use of a hunter education certificate in an acceptable electronic format in lieu of a paper certificate.
Status: To Governor on March 19.

Intro Date: 02/21/2013
Sponsor: Assemblyman Anthony Rendon
Issue Brief: Lead Ammunition Ban
Summary: Would require the use of nonlead ammunition for the taking of all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, nongame birds, and nongame mammals, with any firearm.
Status: In Assembly. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife on March 19.
  Intro Date: 02/22/2013
Sponsor: Assemblyman Richard Bloom
Issue Brief: Anti-Trapping
Summary: Amends existing law that enumerates the fur-bearing mammals that may be taken only with a trap, firearm, a bow and arrow, or poison under a proper permit, or with the use of dogs. Adds the bobcat to this list of fur-bearing animals.
Status:  In Assembly Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife on March 19.

Florida H 423

Intro Date: 01/22/13

Sponsor: Representative Janet Adkins 

Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax

Summary: Relates to tax on sales, use, and other transactions; provides exemption from sales tax for dyed diesel fuel used in certain vessels in specified manner and for specified purpose.

Status: In House. Placed on Calendar on March 20.

Intro Date: 03/07/2013
Sponsor:  Senator David Lucas
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Creates the Senate Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Veterans Study Committee.
Status: From Senate Committee on Rules: Favorably reported on March 20.

Georgia H 197
Intro Date: 02/04/2013
Sponsor: Representative Jay Powell
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Relates to ad valorem taxation of property, provides for taxation of land subject to a forest land conservation use covenant, provides for a performance review board to be appointed by the revenue commissioner, changes certain criteria relating to current use of conservation use property, provides for penalties for violations, provides for valuation of property while an appeal of the assessment is in process, provides for related matters, repeals conflicting laws.
Status: To Senate Committee on Finance on March 11.

Intro Date: 02/05/2013
Sponsor: Representative Jason Shaw
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Relates to licenses, permits, and stamps for hunting, trapping, or fishing; provides a definition, authorizes issuance of a special turkey-hunting permit for young and mobility impaired hunters; relates to seasons and bag limits for wildlife; provides for an extended turkey season for young and mobility impaired hunters.
Status: From Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment: Favorably reported as substituted on March 20.
 Intro Date: 03/11/2013
Sponsor: House State Affairs Committee
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends existing law relating to fish and game to provide that certain moneys shall be earmarked for sportsmen access programs; revises provisions relating to the transfer and use of certain moneys from the Expendable Big Game Depredation Fund.
Status: Introduced to the House Committee on Agricultural Affairs.

Intro Date: 01/08/2013
Sponsor: Representative Fitz Steele
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish
Summary: Relates to hunting coyotes; allows hunters to take coyotes without bag limitation year round; allows coyotes to be taken at night with or without the use of lights or other means designed to make wildlife visible at night, was established by administration regulation.
Status: Signed by Governor on March 19.

Maine H 713
Intro Date: 03/14/2013
Sponsor: Representative Stephen Wood
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary:  Allows a person to hunt any wild bird or animal with a crossbow during ant open season on that bird or animal and removes the restriction against using a crossbow within 100 feet of a building.
Status: Senate refers to Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and  Wildlife in concurrence on March 14.

Maryland S 619
Intro Date: 02/01/2013
Sponsor: John Astle, Co-Chair, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Past President of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses Executive Council
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the Wildlife Management and Sustainability Act of 2013.
Status: Second reading passed House on March 18. To third reading.

Maryland H 66
Intro Date: 01/11/ 2013
Sponsor: Dorchester County Delegation
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Authorizes a person to hunt turkey on public land on any Sunday during the spring turkey hunting season in Dorchester County; makes the Act an emergency measure.
Status: From House Committee on Environmental Matter: Reported as amended on March 19.

Maryland H 365
Intro Date: 01/25/2013
Sponsor: Representative Glen Glass
Issue Brief: Range Protection
Summary: Establishes for archery hunters in Harford County a 100-yard safety zone within which archery hunting may not take place except under specified circumstances.
Status: To Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on March 15.

Maryland H 214
Intro Date: 01/21/2013
Sponsor: Representative Stephen Hershey
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Authorizes a person in Queen Anne's County to hunt deer on specified Sundays on private property using specified hunting equipment during specified months.
Status: Passed House and onto Senate on March 19.

Maryland H 543
Intro Date: 01/30/2013
Sponsor: Caroline County Delegation
Issue Brief: Public Access to Private Lands
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt deer on private property from the first Sunday in October through the second Sunday in January of the following year, inclusive, in Carroll County, subject to specified provisions of law.
Status: Passed House and onto Senate on March 19.

Mississippi S 2048
Intro Date: 01/11/2013
Sponsor: Senator Giles Ward
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Provides that a resident with an archery/primitive weapon license may use a crossbow.
Status: Signed by Governor on March 18.  

Mississippi H 1005
Intro Date: 01/21/2013 
Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Exempts the licensure requirement for certain individuals who trap on certain private lands; prohibits the use of certain trapping devices on public lands, unless exceptions are granted therefor; authorizes the use of certain trapping devices by designated legal authority of public lands or its agent for nuisance control; requires trapping devices to have a department issued identification number on a metal tag.
Status: House refused to concur in Senate amendments.To Conference Committee on March 18.

Mississippi H 1139 

Intro Date: 01/21/2013

Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish

Summary: Authorizes the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to define the term "bow and arrow" for the purpose of open deer season; authorizes the taking of deer during any primitive weapon season by a hunter with any firearm of choice upon private lands vested in the hunter or upon which hunting rights have been leased to the hunter; provides that if a license is required for the taking of deer upon private lands, the hunter shall purchase and have the license in his possession.
Status: To Governor's desk on March 19. 

  

Mississippi H 102

Intro Date: 01/11/2013 

Sponsor: Representative Jane Adkins  

Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges 

Summary: Requires the commission on wildlife, fisheries and parks to designate wounded warrior special hunt areas within wildlife management areas and wildlife refuges; limits guest admittance to such areas to only one person for each eligible veteran, service member, and certain other persons; requires that funding for specialized accommodations be provided through the Mississippi Outdoor Recreation Fund; authorizes the commission to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this act.
Status: To Governor's desk on March 20.

 

Nevada A 345

Intro Date: 03/18/2013

Sponsor: Representative David Bobzien and Senator Debbie Smith, Co-Chairs, Nevada Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: General  

Summary: Revises provisions governing the management of certain wildlife. 

Status: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining on March 18. 

 

New Hampshire S 89 

Intro Date: 01/03/2013

Sponsor: Senator Jeanie Forrester

Issue Brief: Lead Sinker Ban 

Summary: Clarifies the definition of lead fishing sinkers and jigs which are subject to the prohibition on sale and use in the state.

Status: Passed the Senate on March 14 (with amendments).     

  

New Hampshire S 133

Intro Date: 01/3/2013

Sponsor: Senator Jeff Woodburn, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators Compact

Summary: Adopts the interstate wildlife violators compact in New Hampshire, joining other member states.

Status: Passed Senate on March 14.

 

New York S 548 

Intro Date: 01/09/2013  

Sponsor: Senator Mark Grisanti  

Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish  

Summary: Allows the Department of Environmental Conservation to authorize, by regulation, the use of live restraint cable devices to take wildlife. 

Status: To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 19.  

 

North Carolina S 296   

Intro Date: 03/14/2013  

Sponsor: Representative Larry Bell  

Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License   

Summary: Amends and clarifies the hunter education requirements; establishes a hunting heritage apprentice permit.

Status:  To House Committee on Environment on March 14.  

 

North Carolina S 342

Intro Date: 03/19/2013  

Sponsor: Senator Buck Newton, Co-Chair, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: Guns 

Summary: Allows persons with concealed handgun permits to possess handguns in restaurants unless a notice prohibiting possession on the premises is posted; makes it unlawful for felons to possess ammunition, certain weapons in addition to firearms, and to carry any concealed weapon; clarifies the law on local government authority to prohibit concealed carry of firearms.  

Status: To Senate Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate on March 19.  

 

North Carolina H 360  

Intro Date: 03/19/2013  

Sponsor: Assemblyman Harry Brown    

Issue Brief: Public Access to Private Lands  

Summary: Allows hunting on Sunday on private land with permission of the owner.

Status: Filed on March 19.

 

North Dakota H 1282

Intro Date: 01/14/2013  

Sponsor: Representative Joe Heilman  

Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish  

Summary: A bill for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 20.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to using a suppressor for hunting.  

Status: To Governor's desk on March 18.  

 

Pennsylvania S 647

Intro Date: 03/13/2013 

Sponsor: Senator Richard Alloway, Co-Chair, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: Public Access to Private Lands 

Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in enforcement; further provides for the powers and duties of enforcement officers; further provides for the offense of trespass on private property while hunting in hunting and fur-taking.  

Status: To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 13.

  

Pennsylvania S 648

Intro Date: 03/13/2013  

Sponsor: Senator Richard Alloway, Co-Chair, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: Public Access to Private Lands 

Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in enforcement; further provides for hunting liability for actions of others.

Status: To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 13.

 

Pennsylvania H 126 

Intro Date: 01/16/2013

Sponsor: Senator David Maloney, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: Hunting, Fishing and Nature Appreciation in Schools.  

Summary: Upon the request of the commission, school Districts must make a school facility under their control available for the purpose of conducting a hunter education course either during or after school hours. 

Status: Passed the House on March 13 and was delivered to the Senate.

 

Tennessee H 581

Intro Date: 01/31/2013 

Sponsor: Representative Vance Dennis  

Issue Brief: Knife Preemption 

Summary: Relates to Weapons; removes the prohibition against selling or carrying knives with a blade in excess of 4 or the sale, possession or carrying of a switchblade knife, and preempts local regulation with respect to the transfer, ownership, possession or transportation of knives.    

Status: To House Committee on Finance, Ways and Means on March 20.   

  

Texas HJR 113  

Intro Date: 03/05/2013   

Sponsor: Representative Trent Ashby 

Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish 

Summary: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to hunt and fish in accordance with state law.  

Status: To House Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism on March 18.   

 
SCISCI is a proud partner of CSF and
sponsors in part TRACKING THE CAPITOLS

Working with Congress, Governors and State Legislatures to protect and advance hunting, recreational shooting, fishing and trapping.

 

 

For more information on the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation go to www.SportsmensLink.org

 

For additional information on legislation included in this report please contact the appropriate representative

 

Southeastern States Director Jennifer Lundy, at 321.253.0016, or email jennifer@sportsmenslink.org

 

Midwestern States Director Chris Horton, at 501.865.1475, or email chris@sportsmenslink.org

 

Northeastern States Manager Brent Miller, at 202.543.6850 x 13, or email brent@sportsmenslink.org

 

Western States Manager Andy Treharne, at 202.543.6850 x 19, or email andy@sportsmenslink.org