Tracking The Capitols
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: Bill sponsors who are members of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses are noted in bold.
 
NASC

Working with  
State Legislators

Updates for the week of

July 13, 2015
NORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 02/27/2015

Sponsor: Senator Eric Brakey 

Issue Brief: Guns - Constitutional Carry

Summary: Authorizes the carrying of concealed handguns without a permit.

Status: Signed by Governor (Public Law No. 327) on July 8

 

Massachusetts H 1305

Introduced: 03/11/2015

Sponsor: Representative Paul Frost   

Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors  

Summary: Relates to instruments used for the muffling of noise from the firing of firearms.

Status: In Joint Committee on Judiciary: Heard. Eligible for Executive Session on July 14  

 

New Hampshire S 116

Introduced: 01/08/2015

Sponsor: Senator Jeb Bradley

Issue Brief: Guns - Constitutional Carry 

Summary: Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a pistol or revolver is valid; allows a person to carry a loaded concealed weapon without a license unless such person is prohibited by New Hampshire statute; requires the director of the division of state police to negotiate and enter into agreements with other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of the license to carry within the state; repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.

Status: Vetoed by the Governor on July 6

 

New Hampshire S 172

Introduced: 01/08/2015

Sponsor: Senator Jeff Woodburn, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles

Summary: Modifies the size and weight limitations of off highway recreational vehicles including all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles which are classified as off highway recreational vehicles.

Status: Signed by Governor (Chapter No. 2015-33) on May 7

 

New York S 1292

Introduced: 01/09/2015

Sponsor: Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Authorizes hunting of big game with rifles in the county of Genesee.

Status: Signed by Governor (Chapter No. 68) on July 2 

 

Pennsylvania H 1445

Introduced: 07/09/2015

Sponsor: Representative Dave Reed  

Issue Brief: Animal Traps

Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection of property and persons; provides for safety zones.

Status: To House Committee on Game and Fisheries on July 9   

  

SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 02/24/2015

Sponsor: Representative Nelson Dollar

Issue Brief: Budget Bills

Summary: Makes base budget appropriations for current operations of specified state departments, institutions, and agencies, and for other purposes.

Status: To Conference Committee on June 14  

 

 

UPPER MIDWESTERN STATES

 
There are currently no legislative updates from the upper Midwestern region.   

LOWER MIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/28/2015

Sponsor: Representative Pat Verschoore, Member, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: General   

Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; removes the prohibition on taking bobcats in the State; provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to trap or to hunt bobcats with gun, dog, dog and gun, or bow and arrow, except during the open season; provides that the season limit for bobcat shall not exceed one bobcat per permit; provides that the pelts of bobcats shall be tagged; requires Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permits; provides such harvest be non-detrimental as defined by federal regulations.

Status: Signed by Governor (Public Act No. 33) on July 14    

 

Missouri H 92

Introduced: 01/07/2015

Sponsor: Representative Rocky Miller, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: Angling Access  

Summary: Changes the definition of waters of the State by removing waters of the United States lying within the State from the definition.

Status: Signed by Governor and delivered to the Secretary of State on July 14    

 

Texas H 1040

Introduced: 01/29/2015

Sponsor: Representative Chris Paddie, Member, Texas Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 

Issue Brief: Fishing Tournaments

Summary: Relates to the liability of certain sports officials and organizations.

Status: Filed with Secretary of State (Chapter No. 348) on July 10 



PACIFIC-NORTHWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 02/02/2015

Sponsor: Office of the Governor

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Incrementally increases or establishes certain fees related to hunting, angling and commercial fishing over six-year period, applicable January 1, 2016, January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2020; consolidates fee provisions for certain hunting and angling fees into statutory fee schedule; modifies existing surcharges; extends landowner preference program; authorizes State Fish and Wildlife Commission to issue youth license to resident and nonresident persons twelve through seventeen years of age.

Status: Speaker signed on July 9 


 

WESTERN STATES 

 

 

California A 96

Introduced: 01/07/2015

Sponsor: Assembly Member Toni Atkins  

Issue Brief: Ivory 

Summary: Prohibits a person from purchasing, selling, offering for sale, possessing with intent to sell, or importing with intent to sell ivory or rhinoceros horn. Makes this prohibition enforceable by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Makes a violation a misdemeanor subject to specified criminal penalties.

Status: In Senate Committee on Appropriations: To Suspense File on July 6  

 

California A 498

Introduced: 02/23/2015

Sponsor: Assembly Member Marc Levine, Member, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus

Issue Brief: General

Summary: Declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors through various means. Includes within the purposes of a conservation bank the protection of habitat connectivity for fish and wildlife resources. Provides that a project applicant may receive advance mitigation credits for investing in a mitigation bank that protects habitat connectivity. Provides for prohibited grounds for denying a permit or requiring additional mitigation.

Status: From Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water: Do pass to Committee on Appropriations on July 14   

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, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping.

 

For more information on the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation go to 

 

 

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 emai brent@sportsmenslink.org

 

Midwestern States Coordinator Kyle Rorah (MI, IN, OH, WI, MN, IA, ND, SD), at 734.477.5040, or email kyle@sportsmenslink.org

 

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