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.
 
NASC

Working with  
State Legislators
Updates For The Week of  

May 13, 2013    

Alabama S 163
Intro Date: 02/07/2013
Sponsor: Representative Bill Holtzclaw
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Relates to game and fish; amends Section 9-11-44, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for a resident physically disabled military veteran's appreciation hunting license; amends Section 9-11-49, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for a special physically disabled military veteran's appreciation three-day trip event hunting license.
Status:
To Governor on May 9.

California A 711
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. To third reading on May 13.

Connecticut S 1020

Intro Date: 02/28/2013

Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment  

Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators Compact

Summary: Concerns the interstate wildlife violator compact; enacts the Wildlife Violator Compact and repeals the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Compact that is no longer required.

Status: Reported out of Legislative Commissioner's Office on May 14.  

Connecticut H 6690   

Intro Date: 03/27/2013

Sponsor: Joint Committee on Judiciary 

Issue Brief: General 

Summary: Concerns court proceedings and the protection of animals; establishes a process for appointing an advocate to investigate and advocate for the welfare or custody of an animal that is the subject of a civil or criminal court proceeding.

Status: Reported out of Legislative Commissioner's Office on May 14.

Florida H 333
Intro Date: 03/05/2013
Sponsor: Representative Gregory Steube
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; revises definition of terms navigation rules, resident or resident of Florida, and resident alien; exempts individuals participating in certain outdoor recreational events from requirements for hunting or fishing license or permit; revises number of days that commission may designate as free fishing days each year; revises requirements for restricted species endorsement on saltwater products license.

Status: To enrollment on April 29.  

 

Intro Date: 04/17/2013
Sponsor:
Senator Gerald Long, Member, Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Appreciation In Schools
Summary: Urges and requests the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to establish and sanction the competitive sport of tournament bass fishing. 
Status: From House Committee on Education: Reported favorably on May 14.

Maine H 37

Intro Date: 01/16/2013
Sponsor:
Representative Paul Davis
Issue Brief:
General
Summary
Requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to study issues related to the effects of ingestion of artificial fishing lures made of rubber and soft plastic and nondegradable hooks for fishing on fish and wildlife species and inland waters in the State; regards the effects of disposal and ingestion of soft baits made of rubber and soft plastic and longevity of nondegradable hooks for fishing, and the performance and durability of biodegradable alternatives
Status: Became law without Governor's signature. Resolve No. 18 [Effective Rule]. 
 
Maine H 904
Intro Date:
03/27/2013
Sponsor: Representative Paul Davis
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Requires the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to ensure that revenue raised by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is not diverted to any purpose other than administration of the department in accordance with the Constitution of Maine.
Status: In House. Passed to be engrossed on May 15. 

Michigan S 16
Intro Date: 01/16/2013
Sponsor: 
Senator Howard Walker, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:Wildlife Violators 
Summary:
 Modifies enforcement provisions for the wildlife violator compact law. 
Status: In House. Read third time. Passed House. (107-0)
 

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: From House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources on May 15: Minority reported ought not to pass.

 

New Hampshire S 133 

Intro Date: 01/3/2013

Sponsor: Senator Jeff Woodburn, Co-Chair, 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: From House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources on May 9: Ought to pass. 

 

New York S 4222
Intro Date: 03/14/2013

Sponsor: Senator Kenneth LaValle

Issue Brief: Youth Hunting  

Summary: Relates to youth pheasant hunting days on Long Island. 

Status: To Governor on May 10.

New York A 283  

Intro Date: 01/09/2013

Sponsor: Assemblyman Sean Ryan

Issue Brief: Crossbows

Summary: Permits hunting with crossbows in certain circumstances; makes permanent certain provisions permitting hunting with crossbows.

Status: Amended in Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 15.  

North Carolina S 376

Intro Date: 03/21/2013 

Sponsor: Senator Stan Bingham 

Issue Brief: Access to Private Lands

Summary: Directs the Wildlife Resources Commission to enact rules for the year round trapping of coyotes and establish a permit for the year round trapping of coyotes by landowners and lessees on their land; to provide the wildlife resources commission with authority to establish trapping seasons in the exercise of its temporary rule-making authority; to increase the penalty for unlawfully selling, possessing for sale, buying a fox, or taking any fox by unlawful trapping or with the aid of any electronic calling device.

Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate. To House on May 15.

North Carolina S 25

Intro Date: 02/04/2013

Sponsor: Senator Harry Brown, Co-Chair, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

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

Summary: Provides that members of the Armed Forces who are serving on active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States outside the State of North Carolina shall be considered residents for purposes of obtaining certain hunting, fishing, trapping, and special activity licenses.

Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate. To House on May 14.
 

Intro Date: 04/15/2013

Sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, Co-Chair, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Establishes a wildlife poacher reward fund to pay rewards to persons who give information to law enforcement authorities that results in the arrest and conviction of persons who commit serious wildlife violations and to authorize the use of compensation paid to the Wildlife Resources Commission as conditions of offenders' probation as assets of the fund.

Status: In House. Read third time. Passed House. To Senate on May 15.
 

Intro Date: 04/15/2013

Sponsor: Representative Jason Saine

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Establishes standards of care for large commercial dog breeding facilities and to provide law enforcement with tools to ensure that dogs at those facilities are treated humanely.

Status: To Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environment AND Natural Resources on May 13.
 

Pennsylvania S 623

Intro Date: 04/17/2013 

Sponsor: Senator Jake Corman

Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License 

Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking licenses; further provides for license requirements and for unlawful acts concerning licenses; relates to a mentored youth hunting program.

Status:  Signed by Governor on May 15.

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:  Rereferred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on May 14.
 

Rhode Island S 814 

Intro Date: 04/04/2013
Sponsor: Senator Catherine Cool Rumsey
Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators
Summary: Would adopt the wildlife violation compact act which recognizes violations of hunting, trapping and fishing laws occurring in other states as violations in a person's home state. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: In Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture on May 8: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study.  
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 [email protected]

 

Midwestern States Director Chris Horton, at 501.865.1475, or email [email protected]

 

Northeastern States Manager Brent Miller, at 202.543.6850 x 13, or email [email protected]

 

Western States Manager Andy Treharne, at 202.543.6850 x 19, or email [email protected]