Connecticut H 6034

Introduced: 01/21/2015

Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment

Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting

Summary: Authorizes bow and arrow hunting on certain private property on Sundays; establishes that Sunday shall be a closed season except for hunting deer with bow and arrow on private property and for the purpose of trapping under these provisions; establishes that any person shall conduct such hunting only in deer management zones determined by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; requires any person to have the written permission of the private property owner where such hunting is conducted.

Status: Signed by Governor. Public Act No. 15-204, on July 2

 

Delaware H 25

Introduced: 01/14/2015

Sponsor: Representative Dave Wilson    

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to allow the harvesting of gray foxes and permitting of same.

Status: Passed House. To Senate for concurrence on June 23 

 

Delaware H 79

Introduced: 04/02/2015

Sponsor: Representative William Carson     

Issue Brief: General; Invasive Species

Summary: Provides that a striped bass must be tagged by a commercial fisherman before it is landed or put on shore.

Status: Eligible for Governor's desk on June 23  

 

Maine H 100

Introduced: 01/21/2015

Sponsor: Representative Gary Hilliard, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: Recruitment  

Summary: This bill allows an adult holder of an antler-less deer permit to transfer that permit to a holder of a junior hunting license if the holder of the junior hunting license takes an antler-less deer while in the presence or under the supervision of the antler-less deer permit holder. Once the permit is transferred, the adult antler-less deer permit holder loses the right to take an antler-less deer under that permit.

Status: Became law without the Governor's signature (Public Law No. 219) on June 21

 

Maine H 633

Introduced: 03/11/2015

Sponsor: Representative Michael Shaw, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: Wildlife Council for Public Education 

Summary: This bill increases hunting license fees by $1 and directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to use that revenue on an annual basis to educate the public on the management of game species. It also directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to convene a stakeholders group to develop a 5-year public outreach campaign on the efforts of the department to manage game species, including a plan on how to use the increased revenue. The commissioner is directed to report.

Status: Governor's veto overridden House and Senate (Public Law No. 245) on June 23

 

Maine S 94

Introduced: 02/02/2015

Sponsor: Representative Paul Davis, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: General License  

Summary: This bill provides that a nonresident enrolled as a full-time student in an institution of higher education in this State is eligible for any trapping, fishing, hunting or combination fishing and hunting license or permit at the resident fee and has the same privileges as a resident of this State in regard to trapping, hunting and fishing.

Status: Governor's veto overridden by House (Public Law No. 226) on June 22

 

Maine S 333

Introduced: 03/12/2015

Sponsor: Representative Garrett Mason, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors    

Summary: Allows a person to use a noise suppression device while hunting under certain circumstances; provides for enhanced penalties for a person who commits a hunting violation while in possession of a firearm with a noise suppression device; defines hunting crime and serious hunting violation; directs a chief law enforcement officer to provide the certification within a certain number of days under certain circumstances; requires an officer who denies an application to provide the reasons for the denial.

Status: Became law without Governor's signature (Public Law No. 262) on June 25

 

Massachusetts H 3623

Introduced: 06/25/2015

Sponsor: Representative William Straus

Issue Brief: Animal Traps   

Summary: Relates to capturing and trapping furbearing mammals.

Status: Filed as House Docket 3721 on June 25

 

New Jersey A 2443

Introduced: 02/06/2015

Sponsor: Assemblyman John Burzichelli, Co-Chair, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus

Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting Licenses

Summary: Establishes certain apprentice hunting licenses.

Status: From Assembly Committee on Budget as substituted on June 22 

 

New Jersey S 573

Introduced: 01/14/2015

Sponsor: Senator Shirley Turner

Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting Licenses

Summary: Establishes apprentice hunting licenses for residents and non-residents; includes a small game license.

Status: To Governor on June 25

 

New Jersey S 2567

Introduced: 12/01/2014

Sponsor: Senator Stephen Sweeney, Member, New Jersey Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  

Issue Brief: Apprentice Fishing Licenses

Summary: Creates the Fishing Buddy License; concerns all around sportsman and fishing licenses; provides for the licensure of applicants for a combined license at a specified fee for the two persons for both licenses.

Status: To Governor on June 25

 

New Jersey SCR 169

Introduced: 05/18/2014

Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak

Issue Brief: Animal Traps  

Summary: Opposes Fish and Game Council's proposal to allow use of enclosed foothold traps.

Status: Withdrawn from further consideration on June 25  

 

Pennsylvania S 77

Introduced: 01/14/2015

Sponsor: Senator Richard Alloway, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: Hunting Dogs

Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in special licenses and permits; provides for dog training areas.

Status: Passed Senate. To House on June 26

 

Vermont H 5

Introduced: 01/08/2015

Sponsor: Representative David Deen

Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors  

Summary: Requires the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife to report free permanent fishing, hunting, or combination licenses issued to persons with a permanent, severe, physical mobility disability or age 65 or older; relates to bows and arrows; provides for mentored hunters; provides that license agent fees are the property of the state and shall be promptly paid to the state; creates the Migratory Waterfowl Advisory Committee; provides for protection of endangered species and law enforcement officers.

Status: Signed by Governor (Act No. 61) on June 19    

 

 

Ohio H 267

Introduced: 06/22/2015

Sponsor: Representative Margaret Ruhl    

Issue Brief: Deer Management

Summary: Establishes a deer sanctuary license; allows a licensee to raise deer; establishes requirements governing such a license; requires the Chief of the Division of Wildlife to issue a wild animal permit to allow a permit holder to rehabilitate deer; establishes procedures that certain law enforcement officers must follow when responding to accidents involving injured or deceased deer; requires training for those officers regarding humane procedures for euthanizing injured deer.

Status: To House Committee on Rules and Reference on June 22      

Wisconsin A 107

Introduced: 03/20/2015

Sponsor: Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   

Issue Brief: Game Meat Donations  

Summary: Authorizes reimbursement to counties for the costs incurred in processing and donating wild turkeys; provides that any applicant for a hunting license may, in addition to paying any fee charged for the license, elect to make a voluntary contribution for the venison and wild turkey processing and donation program; relates to processing and donating meat from wild turkey carcasses.

Status: Signed by Governor on July 1     

 

 

 

Oregon H 2402

Introduced: 02/02/2015

Sponsor: Office of the Governor

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Establishes Task Force on State Department of Fish and Wildlife Funding; sunsets task force on December 31, 2016; declares emergency, effective on passage.

Status: Senate President signed; eligible for Governor's signature on July 3

 

Oregon H 3012

Introduced: 02/13/2015

Sponsor: Representative Wayne Krieger, Co-Chair, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: General; General License 

Summary: Establishes Oregon Hatchery Research Center Fund; requires moneys in fund to be used for research projects recommended by Oregon Hatchery Research Center Board; requires unexpended and unobligated balance in Oregon Hatchery Research Center Fund as of July 1 of each year to be transferred to Hatchery Construction Fund; establishes Hatchery Construction Fund; designates uses of fund; sunsets January 2, 2026; establishes surcharge on angling licenses and additional commercial ad valorem catch fee on fish.

Status: Senate President signed; eligible for Governor's signature on July 3

 

Oregon S 5544

Introduced: 02/02/2015

Sponsor: Department of Administrative Services

Issue Brief: Budget Bills; General

Summary: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Department of Agriculture for wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program; appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Department of Fish and Wildlife for sage grouse conservation efforts; limits biennial expenditures for payment of expenses of sage grouse conservation efforts by State Department of Fish and Wildlife from grant from Intermountain West Joint Venture.

Status: Signed by Governor on June 30