Tracking the Capitols is a 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, angling, recreational 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.
 


Working with  
State Legislators
Updates For the Week of  

May 26, 2014     
Introduced: 02/13/2014
Sponsor: Assemblymember Jim Frazier, Co-Chair, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus, Assemblymember Frank Bigelow, Member, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a license to take any bird or mammal, upon payment of a base fee, to a resident or nonresident who is under 18 years of age on July 1 of the licensing year for which he or she seeks a license. Requires the department to issue a 2-day license to a nonresident who is 18 years of age or older upon payment of a base fee.
Status: Passed Assembly. To Senate on May 27.

California A 2105
Introduced: 02/20/2014
Sponsor: Assemblymember Jim Frazier, Co-Chair, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Hearing:  Room 112, 9:30 a.m., June 10, 2014
Summary: Relates to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Relates to tags, stamps, and licenses for the hunting of antelope, elk, deer, wild pigs, bear, and bighorn sheep upon payment of a fee. Requires the department to authorize a nonprofit organization designated by the department to assist in the sale of these tags to retain a percentage of the amount of the sale price of the tag, plus any applicable credit card fees.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water on May 8.

Connecticut S 71
Intro Date: 02/11/2014
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Internet Based Hunter Education Course
Summary: Concerns on-line education options for boating and hunting safety; authorizes certain on-line boating and hunting safety courses.
Status: To Governor on May 27. 

Connecticut S 241
Intro Date: 02/21/2014
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Youth Licenses
Summary:Concerns youth hunting and fishing licenses, revising certain hunting and fishing license fees and requiring registration by hunting and fishing guide services; clarifies certain hunting and fishing license fees for persons sixteen and seventeen years of age, reduce certain fishing fees and establish a registration requirement for persons who conduct hunting or fishing guide services.
Status: To Governor on May 28.

Florida 1 2014
Intro Date: 01/17/2014
Sponsor: Proposed Amendment
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Proposes an amendment to the constitution to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands, fish and wildlife habitat, water resources and drinking water sources, and the water quality of rivers, lakes and steams, beaches, and shores, outdoor recreational lands, working farms and ranches, and historic geologic sites. 
Status: Placed on Ballot on January 17.

Illinois H 5869
Introduced: 2/06/2014
Sponsor: Representative Sam Yingling
Issue Brief: Invasive Species
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; provides that releasing any aquatic life into the wild in the State without first securing permission of the Department of Natural Resources shall be a Class B misdemeanor.
Status: Passed both Houses on May 28.

Louisiana H 416
Intro Date: 02/17/2014 
Sponsor: Representative Eddie Lambert, Member, Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Expands the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries responsibilities for conservation and management of saltwater fisheries to include all fisheries; adds responsibility for sustainability of fishery resources to the responsibilities of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.  
Status: To Governor on May 27.   
   
Massachusetts H 4074
Introduced: 5/15/2014
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes bow and arrow hunting on Sundays.
Status: In House. Committee Amendment adopted. See H 4114 on May 27.

Massachusetts H 4114
Introduced: 5/27/2014
Sponsor: House Ways and Means Committee
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes the use of bow and arrows for Sunday deer hunting. 
Status:  In House. Ordered to third reading on May 27.

Michigan S 869
Intro Date: 03/12/2014
Sponsor: Senator Geoff Hansen, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Revises bass season dates 
Status: To Governor on May 28.

New Hampshire S 230
Intro Date: 01/08/2014
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Woodburn, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Summary: Adds a definition of a utility terrain vehicle used as an off highway recreational vehicle.
Status: Enrolled Bill Amendment on May 22.

New Hampshire S 389
Introduced: 01/8/2014
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Woodburn, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles
Summary: Allows fish and game conservation officers to enforce the motor vehicle laws of the state in the operation of snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, and off highway recreational vehicles; relates to trespass on posted land and transportation of firearms for hunting.
Status: House accedes to Senate request for Conference Committee on May 22. 

New Hampshire H 256
Intro Date: 01/03/2013
Sponsor: Representative Gene Chandler, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding  
Summary: Provides funding for the fish and game search and rescue fund by establishing a $10 surcharge on all fines issued for fish and game law violations and establishing a minimum flat fee for individuals who were the object of a search and rescue response, unless the individual possesses a current hunting or fishing license, an OHRV, snowmobile, or boat registration, or a voluntary hike safe card issued by the department and establishing a voluntary hike safe card.
Status: Conference Committee Report: Amendment filed on May 28.

New Hampshire H 1579
Introduced: 01/08/2013
Sponsor: Representative Steve Vaillancourt  
Issue Brief: Animal Traps 
Summary: Prohibits the use of certain leghold or foothold traps for the taking of animals.
Status: Ordered Enrolled on May 28. 

North Carolina H 1050
Introduced: 5/15/2014
Sponsor: Representative Julia Howard, Member, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Allows a taxpayer to carry forward a State net loss incurred in a prior taxable year and deduct in in the current taxable year; relates to property tax and appraisals of public service companies; provides standard deduction amounts for determining adjusted gross income; relates to agricultural exemption certificates; relates to taxation of service contracts; relates to the excise tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes and levies an excise tax on vapor products.
Status: Signed by Governor on May 29. Session Law Number 2014-3 [Effective Rule].
Introduced: 4/01/2014
Sponsor: Senator Greg Gregory  
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to the establishment, operation, and maintenance of wildlife management areas; provides that certain acts or conduct that are prohibited may be allowed by regulation, that these acts or conduct are prohibited on state lakes and ponds owned or leased by the department and heritage preserves owned by the department.
Status: Passed House on May 16.

South Carolina S 1070
Intro Date: 03/04/2014
Sponsor: Senator George E. "Chip" Campsen, III, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Provides the Department of Natural Resources the authority to promulgate regulations governing certain areas to establish seasons, dates, areas, bag limits, and other restrictions for hunting and taking wild turkey; relates to the Department of Natural Resources' regulation of the hunting of wild turkeys; revises the season for the hunting and taking of male wild turkeys; establishes South Carolina youth turkey hunting day; establishes bag limits for the taking of male wild turkeys.
Status: Passed House. To Senate for concurrence on May 28.

Intro Date: 03/04/2014
Sponsor: Senator George E. "Chip" Campsen, III, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to the division of the state into game zones, small game seasons, small game bag limits, the open season for antlered deer, the bag limit on antlered deer, and bear hunting; decreases the number of game zones, revise the dates for the various small game seasons; revises the small game bag limits for the various game zones, revise the dates for the various antlered deer open season; relates to field trials in and permits for game zone nine. 
Status: To Governor on May 29.

Introduced: 5/20/2014
Sponsor: Senate Fish, Game and Forestry
Summary: Approves regulations of the Department of Natural Resources; relates to seasons, limits, methods of take and special use restrictions on wildlife management area. 
Status: Placed on calendar without reference to House committee on May 27.

Intro Date: 03/04/2014
Sponsor: Representative Mike Pitts, Former President, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses Executive Council, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucuses   
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the division of the state into game zones, small game seasons, small game bag limits, the open season for antlered deer, the bag limit on antlered deer, and bear hunting; decreases the number of game zones, revise the dates for the various small game seasons; revises the small game bag limits for the various game zones, revise the dates for the various antlered deer open season; relates to field trials in and permit for game zone nine.
Status: Recommitted to House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs on May 27.
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 Manager Bee Frederick, at 334.593.6988, or email bee@sportsmenslink.org

 

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

 

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

 

Western States Manager Andy Treharne, at 303.789.7589, or email andy@sportsmenslink.org