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.

Updates for the week of 

January 11, 2016
NORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 06/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Debra Heffernan
Issue Brief: Catch Shares
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to manage the eel fishery by regulation in order to adopt limits and sizes that are consistent with the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel ("Plan").
Status: House Amendment No. HHA 1 placed with bill on January 13

Introduced: 06/24/2015
Sponsor: Senator Karen Peterson
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; provides criminal and civil penalties against a person who violates any rule; authorizes the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to permit the purchase, sale, or offer for sale, possession within to sell, or importation with intent to sell ivory or rhinoceros horn for educational or scientific purposes.
Status: From Banking and Business: Reported without recommendation on January 13 

Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Joseph Martin, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue any hunting or fishing license at a reduced rate to a nonresident who owns more than 250 acres of land in this State and keeps that land open for hunting.
Status: Work Session Held on January 12   
 
Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Senator Paul Davis, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: General
Summary: This resolve requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to convene a working group of representatives of related industries to develop recommended statutory amendments or agency rules to implement the statute governing the incidental take permitting process governing the taking of an endangered or threatened species while engaged in a lawful activity.
Status: Work Session Held on January 12 

Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jason Parent
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Requires that a person wishing to use bait on the land of another person obtain written permission from a property owner; the bill removes the requirement of filing a permit and map with the conservation officer; 16-2007 10/05.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for February 4
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jason Parent
Issue Brief: Bear Hunting   
Summary: Provides that a guide licensed by the fish and game department shall not be limited in the number of bears they may assist in taking but shall be limited to 6 active bear bait sites; 16-2008 10/05.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for February 4
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Robert Cushing 
Issue Brief: General License 
Summary: Establishes an exotic game hunting license to be issued by the fish and game department, in addition to any other license or permit, for hunting wild boar or elk in a game preserve; 16-2033 10/05.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for January 28     

Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Kidder, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: General License 
Summary: Allows the fish and game department to establish 2 days per year for fishing without a license but requires persons in fishing tournaments to have a license on those days; 16-2295 10/01.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for January 21     
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative James Spillane
Issue Brief: Crossbows  
Summary: Allows a person who has purchased a muzzleloader license to hunt deer with a crossbow; 16-2018 04/10.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for January 28
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Joe Duarte  
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation
Summary: Inserts statutory fees for licenses and permits issued by the fish and game department which were removed by 2015, 186 (HB 212), and removes rulemaking authority for the fees; 16-2073 10/09.
Status: Public Hearing scheduled for January 21     
 
Introduced: 11/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Tim Eustace
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Prohibits possession and transport of parts and products of certain animal at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports and port facilities.
Status: Passed Senate. To Governor on January 11
 
Introduced: 12/03/2015
Sponsor: Representative Donna Simon
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of certain animal species threatened with extinction.
Status: Substituted by S 3416 on January 11
 
Introduced: 11/09/2015
Sponsor: Senator Teresa Ruiz  
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Requires firearm retailers to sell personalized handguns in the same manner as other handguns; repeals sections of law prohibiting the sale of all handguns after personalized handguns are available for retail purposes; requires each wholesaler or retail dealer to maintain an inventory of the types of personalized handguns to be displayed in the dealer's salesroom and offered for sale to the general public.
Status: Passed Assembly. To Governor on January 11
 
Introduced: 08/10/2015
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak 
Issue Brief: Ivory
Summary: Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of certain animal species threatened with extinction; prohibits the person lawfully possesses any ivory product and rhinoceros horn product; relates to the Big Five African Species.
Status: Passed Assembly. To Governor on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Amy Paulin  
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Enacts Nicholas's law; requires the safe storage of all weapons, either in a safe or with a locking device, and provides penalties for simple and complex violations; requires notices to be furnished upon transfer of weapons and issuance/renewal of licenses; defines weapons to mean rifles, shotguns, and firearms.
Status: Recalled from Senate. Returned to Assembly on January 6 

Introduced: 01/07/2016
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School
Summary: Creates a legislative task force on outdoor environmental education and recreation that will benefit residents of New York state by fostering stewardship and conservation of the environment, and an appreciation of the importance of the wise use of natural resources as well as acknowledgment of the health benefits of time spent in nature.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
 
Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Includes wildlife animals as those subject to the animal cruelty provisions of the agriculture and markets law.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture on January 6   

Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Deborah Glick  
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective of such contest or competition is to take the greatest number of wildlife.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6 
 
Introduced: 02/05/2015
Sponsor: Assemblyman William Colton
Issue Brief: Knife Ban
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; prohibits the manufacture, transport, shipment or possession of an undetectable knife.
Status: Recalled from Senate. Returned to Assembly on January 6  
 
Introduced: 02/06/2015
Sponsor: Assemblyman Dan Quart  
Issue Brief: Knife Definitions
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; provides that possession of a gravity knife shall constitute criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree only if the defendant has intent to use the same unlawfully against another.
Status: Recalled from Senate. Returned to Assembly on January 6  
 
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Assemblyman Steve Englebright   
Issue Brief: Ivory  
Summary: Relates to musical instruments containing ivory or rhinoceros horn; specifies amount allowable for instruments for elephant ivory and mammoth ivory; requires documentation to show articles with mammoth ivory being sold, offered for sale, traded, bartered or distributed were obtained prior to the effective date of this act.
Status: Recalled from Senate. Returned to Assembly on January 6  
 
Introduced: 03/16/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel   
Issue Brief: Microstamping
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; requires semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in this state to be capable of microstamping ammunition; establishes fines for violations of this requirement and provides for an affirmative defense if the dealer had a certification from the manufacturer.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Codes on January 6  
 
Introduced: 05/12/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6   

Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Michael Nozzolio    
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides that the open season for hunting coyotes shall be all year long, provided that the county legislature has a resolution authorizing such hunting within the county.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
 
Introduced: 02/02/2015
Sponsor: Representative Fred Keller     
Issue Brief: Guns 
Summary: Amends the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax for education; provides for exclusions from sales and use tax.
Status: In House on Second Consideration on January 25
 
Introduced: 03/23/2015
Sponsor: Representative Dan Moul, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Amends the act of February 2, 1965 (P.L.1860, No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing certain acts;" provides for liability for landowners to recreational users; provides for attorney fees and court costs.
Status: In House on Second Consideration on January 25

Introduced: 04/16/2015
Sponsor: Senator Scott Hutchinson, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking; provides for unlawful devices and methods.
Status: In House on Second Consideration on January 25
Introduced: 01/07/2016
Sponsor: Representative Joseph Solomon
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering
Summary: Would require that the sheltering and nourishment of dogs conform to the industry standards established by the Tufts Animal Care and Conditions Scale regarding outside sheltering, proper nourishment, sanitary conditions, and physical condition. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: In House on Committee on Health, Education and Welfare on January 7

Introduced: 01/07/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patricia Serpa  
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering
Summary: Would repeal certain exceptions to the "Care of Dogs Act" and would require those individuals under an order by an animal control officer to tether or confine dogs, training facilities, licensed hunters and sled dog owners to comply with the provisions of this chapter. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: In House on Committee on Health, Education and Welfare on January 7

Introduced: 01/09/2016
Sponsor: Representative Steve Landes        
Issue Brief: Enforcement; General
Summary: Relates to warrantless arrest; relates to conservation police officers and conservation officers; allows a conservation police officer of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and a conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to make warrantless arrests for misdemeanors not committed in the officer's presence involving hunting, trapping, inland fish, and boating laws when such arrest is based on probable cause upon personal investigation.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 13

Introduced: 12/22/2015
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden       
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to purchase of handguns; relates to limitation on handgun purchases; relates to penalty; prohibits any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period and establishes such an offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor; provides exemptions.
Status: To Senate Committee on Courts and Justice on January 13

Introduced: 01/04/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden       
Issue Brief: Guns; Full Capacity Magazines
Summary: Relates to prohibition of sale or transfer of certain firearms magazines; prohibits any person from selling, bartering, or transferring a firearms magazine designed to hold more than specified number of rounds of ammunition; provides that a violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor; prohibits a person from carrying semi-automatic center-fire firearms with more than 10 rounds of ammunition in a public place; relates to loss of driving privileges for delinquent children involved in firearms offenses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Courts and Justice on January 13

Introduced: 01/04/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden       
Issue Brief: Guns; Full Capacity Magazines; Sound Suppressors 
Summary: Relates to public places; relates to loaded firearms; prohibits the carrying of certain loaded firearms in public places; provides that concealed handgun permit holders, law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, persons hunting, and persons at shooting ranges are exempt; provides that the bill narrows the definition of a firearm and makes the prohibition, which previously applied only to certain localities, apply statewide.
Status: To Senate Committee on Courts and Justice on January 13

Introduced: 01/07/2016
Sponsor: Senator Lynwood Lewis, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: General; Enforcement
Summary: Relates to recreational oyster harvest; limits the exemption for taking up to one bushel of oysters for personal use on Sunday to those Sundays within a prescribed oyster harvest season and public oyster grounds or unleased bottom that has been designated as open for harvesting.
Status: To Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on January 13 


SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Santiago, Member, Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Angling Access; General License
Summary: Relates to identification cards and driver licenses; provides for persons status as lifetime freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, or sportsman licensee, or boater safety identification cardholder, to be indicated on his or her identification card or driver license upon payment of additional fee and presentation of persons lifetime freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, or sportsman's license or boater safety identification card; provides waiver of replacement fee in certain circumstances.
Status: To House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee on January 12
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kionne McGhee
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Relates to conservation easements; deletes requirement that a property tax exemption for a conservation easement must be renewed annually.
Status: To House Committee on Finance and Tax on January 12
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Katie Edwards
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Relates to dredge and fill activities; revises acreage of wetlands and surface waters subject to impact by dredge and fill activities under state programmatic general permits; provides that seeking to use such permits consents to specified federal wetland jurisdiction criteria.
Status: Referred to House Committee on State Affairs on January 12 
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
Issue Brief: Angling Access; Animals Traps
Summary: Relates to fish and wildlife conservation commission; revises penalties for violations of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) rules or regulations relating to control and management of state game lands, wildlife management areas, spearfishing, contamination of fresh waters, use of explosives in fresh waters, loaning or transferring license or permit to another person or using borrowed or transferred licenses and permits and swearing or affirming to false statements.
Status: To House Committee on State Affairs on January 13
 
Introduced: 10/19/2015
Sponsor: House State Affairs Committee
Issue Brief: Angling Access; Marine Spatial Plan
Summary: Relates to environmental resources; requires the Department of Environmental Protection to provide a database of conservation lands; requires the department to submit a report by a certain date; relates to public access, water management pilot projects, minimum water levels, a multidistrict regional water supply plan, consumptive use permits, watershed protection, lakes restoration, funding plans, recovery and prevention strategies, basin action plans, public reports and use of treated potable water.
Status: Assigned House Bill No. 7005 on January 11
 
Introduced: 11/12/2015
Sponsor: House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Relates to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; defines the term fish and wildlife; revises penalties for violation of commission rules or regulations; relates to control and management of state game lands.
Status: Assigned House Bill No. 7013 on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Matt Hutson
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to identification cards and driver licenses; provides for a person's status as a lifetime freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, or sportsman licensee, or boater safety identification cardholder, to be indicated on his or her identification card or driver license upon payment of an additional fee and presentation of the person's lifetime freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, hunting, or sportsman's license, or boater safety identification card.
Status: In Senate. Placed on Third Reading on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Darren Soto
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding
Summary: Relates to State black bears; creates the State Black Bear Habitat Restoration Act; requires the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Environmental Protection to enforce certain provisions, adopted rules, and issue orders; creates a Bear-Resistant Garbage Container Account within the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on January 12 
 
Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Monford
Issue Brief: Invasive Species  
Summary: Relates to a Florida lionfish education and research consortium.
Status: Pre-filed on January 8   
 
Introduced: 12/17/2015
Sponsor: Senator Miguel Diaz  
Issue Brief: Angling Access   
Summary: Relates to dredge and fill activities; revises the acreage of wetlands and other surface Waters subject to impact by dredge and fill activities under a state programmatic general permit; provides that seeking to use such a permit consents to specified federal wetland jurisdiction criteria.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on January 8    
 
Introduced: 03/31/2015
Sponsor: Representative Jon Burns, Member, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax; General
Summary: Relates to conservation and natural resources; repeals and reenacts Chapter 6A; relates to land conservation; creates the Georgia Legacy Trust Fund; creates funding mechanisms for the protection and preservation of conservation land and provide for their operation; provides for legislative intent; provides for definitions; establishes procedural requirements for approval of project proposals; provides for related matters; provides an effective date; provides for contingent repeal.
Status: In House: Read second time on January 11    
 
Introduced: 03/31/2015
Sponsor: Representative Jon Burns, Member, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax; General
Summary: Proposes an amendment to the Constitution; authorizes an annual allocation of seventy-five percent of the revenue derived from the state sales and use tax with respect to the sale of outdoor recreation equipment to a trust fund to be used for the protection and preservation of conservation land; provides for related matters; provides for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection.
Status: In House: Read second time on January 11    
 
Introduced: 01/11/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Heath, Executive Council Member, National Assembly of State Caucuses
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Recognizes January 14, 2016, as Sportsmen's and Coastal Day at the capitol.
Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate on January 12  
 
Introduced: 01/05/2016
Sponsor: Representative Diane St. Onge  
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Declares legislative intent; invalidates and nullifies all federal laws and regulations restricting ownership or possession of firearms; directs the General Assembly to take all appropriate action to safeguard Kentuckians' rights to possess firearms in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Kentucky; adds specified persons to the list of persons who shall not possess firearms.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary on January 5    
 
Introduced: 01/05/2016
Sponsor: Representative Reginald Meeks   
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requests that the Legislative Research Commission create the Gun Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force to study public safety, public protection, and gun safety issues.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 5     
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Chip Huggins  
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Provides that the Department of Natural Resources may issue a combination license or a fishing license to a constable, reserve police officer, or a volunteer firefighter at no cost; provides for renewal of the licenses; provides for the privileges afforded to a holder of these licenses.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Issues on January 12
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Marlon Kimpson  
Issue Brief: Sporting Rifle 
Summary: Relates to offenses involving weapons; adds the term assault weapon; makes it unlawful to transport, store, keep, possess, have in possession, permit another to store, keep, possess, or have in possession, sell, rent, give away, or participate in any manner, directly or indirectly, in the sale, renting, giving away, or otherwise disposing of an assault weapon; provides exceptions to this prohibition; relates to use and possession of machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and rifles.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary 12

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Marlon Kimpson  
Issue Brief: Guns   
Summary: Relates to firearms; provides that a person who owns a firearm shall register the firearm with the state law enforcement division; provides that the state law enforcement division shall maintain a list of firearm serial numbers; provides that the state law enforcement division must publish a report; provides for penalties; defines necessary terms.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary 12
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Larry Grooms   
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to hunting deer near residences; provides that it is unlawful to hunt deer within three hundred yards of a residence without permission of the owner and occupant.
Status: To Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry on January 12


MIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Brandon Phelps, Co-Chair, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands; General
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; provides that a person may hunt with a bow and arrow on private property during a shotgun hunting season if he or she has the consent of the owner and any tenant of the premises.
Status: Introduced on January 11

Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Michael Crider   
Issue Brief: High Fence
Summary: Removes language that exempts wild animals that are being held in captivity under a license or permit from being the property of Indiana; amends the department of natural resource's duties to provide for the protection and proper management of all legally and publicly owned wild animals in Indiana; provides that the specified fish and wildlife Laws do not apply to legally owned captive bred cervidae.
Status: From Senate Committee on Natural Resources: Do pass as amended (9-0). Committee amendment adopted on Senate floor on January 12   

Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Linda Black, Co-Chair, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Imposes civil penalties for poaching certain animals.
Status: Introduced on January 6
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mike Moon, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Hunter Education; Senior; Veterans  
Summary: Exempts certain members of the military from the hunter education and safety training course requirements for issuance of a hunting permit.
Status: Introduced on January 6
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Wallingford, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Invasive Species   
Summary: Relates to feral hogs. 
Status: Hearing conducted on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/09/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ernie Chambers
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Eliminates provisions relating to hunting mountain Lions.
Status: From Legislative Committee on Natural Resources: Indefinitely postponed on January 12  
 
Nebraska L 745
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator John McCollister, Member, Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding; Deer Management; General License    
Summary: Changes Game and Parks Commission fee and permit provisions.
Status: To Legislative Committee on Natural Resources on January 7 


WESTERN STATES 


Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kate Brophy McGee  
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to technical correction; relates to illegally taking wildlife.
Status: Introduced on January 12 
 
Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: Senator Michael Sanchez   
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School
Summary: Affirms the importance of environmental education; requests the declaration of an environmental education week; requests that the Department of Game and Fish lead a study for a grant program to increase environmental education opportunities for students.
Status: Prefiled on January 8  
 
Oregon LC 277
Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee     
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Ratifies decision of State Fish and Wildlife Commission to remove Canis lupus from state list of endangered species; prohibits commission from including Canis lupus on lists of threatened species or endangered species unless certain criteria met.
Status: Filed on January 8   
 
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake    
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Provides tools for the department of fish and wildlife to use in order to promote access to private lands for hunting.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake     
Issue Brief: E-Hunter Education Course; Hunter Education
Summary: Makes changes that gives tools to the department of fish and wildlife to ensure hunter safety by focusing on the actual person hunting and not the sporting equipment used by the hunter including, but not limited to, establishing the age of fourteen as the minimum age to participate in unaccompanied hunting.
Status: 2015 3rdSpecial Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Washington H 1270
Introduced: 01/15/2015
Sponsor: Representative Vincent Buys     
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Increases salmon populations through the implementation of a new fish hatchery management structure that is modeled on the proven, successful structure utilized by the state of Alaska for the past forty years.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake      
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Allows additional hunting opportunities on state land.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/23/2015
Sponsor: Representative Liz Pike      
Issue Brief: Catch Shares; Angling Access
Summary: Ensures that fishing opportunities in Washington are consistent with the economic contributions provided by the fishing user groups.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 02/11/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brian Dansel       
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Provides for the partial delisting of the gray wolf by the fish and wildlife commission.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 02/11/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brian Dansel       
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Concerns a pilot program for cougar control.
Status: 2015 3rdSpecial Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 02/16/2015
Sponsor: Senator Pam Roach, Co-Chair, Washington Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunter Education
Summary: Provides funding for the hunter education training program through the issuance of national rifle association special license plates.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 04/20/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brian Hatfield
Issue Brief: Budget Bills; General License
Summary: Increases participation in recreational fishing by lowering licensure costs.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/11/2015
Sponsor: Senator Mike Hewitt  
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding 
Summary: Provides funding for steelhead conservation through the issuance of Washington's fish license plate collection.
Status: To Senate Committee on Transportation on January 12
 
Introduced: 01/22/2015
Sponsor: Senator Kirk Pearson   
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Requests Congress to provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries with sufficient resources to expedite review of Puget Sound hatchery and genetic management plans and that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries prioritize and conduct immediate review and approval of these plans.
Status: 2015 3rd Special Session: By Order of Resolution - Reintroduced and retained in present status on January 11
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ogden Driskill, Co-Chair, Wyoming Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to game and fish; creates a new hunting prohibition; requires revocation of hunting licenses, loss of preference points and forfeiture of devices and equipment for hunting violations as specified; specifies Prima facie evidence of hunting; provides for an effective date.
Status: Prefiled on January 12  
        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 
www.SportsmensLink.org

For additional information on legislation included in this report please contact the appropriate representative: 
 
Southeastern States Manager Bee Frederick (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV), at 334.593.6988, or email bee@sportsmenslink.org
 
Midwestern States Director Chris Horton (AR, IL, KS, LA, MO, NE, OK, TX), at 501.865.1475, or email chris@sportsmenslink.org

Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator Alana Barricks (DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA), at 202.543.6850 x 18, or email alana@sportsmenslink.org 
 
Northeastern States Director Brent Miller (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT), at 202.543.6850 x 13, or email 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

Midwestern State Coordinator Wesley Womack (IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, SD), at 202.543.6850 ex 19, or email wesley@sportsmenslink.org
 
Western States Director Andy Treharne (AZ, CA, CO, MT, NM, UT, WY), at 303.789.7589, or email andy@sportsmenslink.org



Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube View on Instagram