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 18, 2016
NORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Relates to the use of crossbows in hunting.
Status: To Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Ought to pass on January 20
 
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Relates to bow and arrow hunting season.
Status: To Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Ought to pass on January 20
 
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Mark Montigny
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering   
Summary: Relates to tethering of dogs.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 21
 
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative John Burt, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus        
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors 
Summary: Repeals provisions which prohibit the use of silencing devices for taking wildlife and impose penalties therefor.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on January 7
 
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative Guy Comtois
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: I: increases the length of time for which a license to carry a pistol or revolver is valid; II: allows a person to carry a loaded, concealed pistol or revolver without a license provided such person is not otherwise prohibited by law; III: repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver; 15-0798 04/09.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on January 6
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mark Proulx  
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Allows a person to carry a rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat, aircraft, or other vehicle; 16-2212 04/05.
Status: Public hearing to be held on January 26 
 
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: Pocket Veto by Governor on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak 
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires use of bear-resistant containers, dumpsters, or food boxes in certain areas located in black bear habitat under certain circumstances, including garbage collection, and prohibits certain actions that would result in feeding of black bears.
Status: To Senate Committee on Economic Growth on January 12   
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Fred Madden  
Issue Brief: Ammunition
Summary: Prohibits possession of ammunition capable of penetrating body armor.
Status: To Senate Committee on Law and Public Safety on January 12  
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak
Issue Brief: Animal Traps
Summary: Determines that Fish and Game Council's proposal to allow use of enclosed foothold traps is inconsistent with plain language and legislative intent of 1984 law banning animal traps of steel-jaw leghold type.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on January 12   
 
Introduced: 08/10/2015
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak 
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of certain animal species threatened with extinction; provides that no person shall possess, transport, import, export, process, sell or offer for sale, or ship, and no common carrier or contract carrier shall knowingly transport or receive for shipment any part or product of any big five African species or any species or subspecies of specified wild animals listed on certain endangered species acts; provides civil penalties.
Status: Pocket Veto by Governor on January 19
 
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: Pocket Veto by Governor on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/28/2015
Sponsor: Assemblyman Fred Thiele
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Amends the Tax Law; makes technical corrections to the conservation easement tax credit.
Status: Amended in Assembly Committee on Ways and Means on January 20    
 
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: Amended in Assembly Committee on Codes on January 15   
 
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Senator Patrick Gallivan, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Eliminates the requirement that hunters wear back tags during hunting season in the state.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
 
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Senator Patrick Gallivan, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation law; relates to hunting or trapping of moose; provides the department may issue a license by rule or regulation to allow the taking of individual animals that are deemed to be destructive; establishes a license lottery for moose when conditions warrant control of individual animals or when such big game animals constitute a nuisance population; prohibits a person taking, possessing or transporting moose shall fail to comply with any requirements established by rules.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6

Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Senator Jose Peralta     
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: Amended in Senate Committee on Codes on January 12 
 
Introduced: 01/30/2015
Sponsor: Senator Robert Ortt      
Issue Brief: Animal Traps
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to the regulation of live restraint cable devices to take wildlife; authorizes regulations by the department of environmental conservation.
Status: Amended in Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 7
 
Introduced: 02/20/2015
Sponsor: Senator Kathleen Marchione, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     Issue Brief: Outdoor Sport Tax Holiday
Summary: Amends the Tax Law; provides a 25% tax credit against personal income taxes for the purchase of gun safety equipment up to $500.
Status: Amended in Senate Committee on Investigations and government Operations on January 16
 
Introduced: 02/11/2015
Sponsor: Senator Carl Macellino    
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Develops a course of action for the repayment over the next five years of monies transferred from the environmental protection fund to the general fund.
Status: Amended in Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 15
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Representative Michael Ranzenhofer
Issue Brief: General     
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to permits for non-ambulatory persons to possess loaded firearms in motor vehicles; defines non-ambulatory as being unable to move about in a field, wood or other hunting arena without mechanical assistance.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 13    

Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Diane Savino         
Issue Brief: Knife Definitions
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; relates to the definitions of a switchblade knife and a gravity knife; excludes knives which have a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure and open the knife.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative J. Aaron Regunberg
Issue Brief: Full Capacity Magazines  
Summary: Criminalizes the manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale or transfer of any ammunition feeding device capable of accepting more than ten (10) rounds.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 15 
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Joanna Cole     
Issue Brief: Guns 
Summary: Relates to approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of Burlington prohibiting possession of firearms on premises where alcohol is licensed to be served.
Status: To House Committee on Government Operations on January 15
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Deen, Member, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: Crossbows; Enforcement; Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact 
Summary: Relates to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Status: To House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources  
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kesha Ram       
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to miscellaneous timber harvesting, forestry, and state lands issues.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products on January 20   
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patrick Brennan, Co-Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus        
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to authorizing the use of a light to hunt coyotes.
Status: To House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources on January 20     
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sporting Rifle 
Summary: Relates to transfer of assault weapon; relates to proof of citizenship; makes consistent the type of identification and other documentation that a purchaser of a firearm must present when purchasing any type of firearm from a licensed dealer by removing the additional requirement for the purchase of an assault weapon that a person who purchases such a weapon must present proof of citizenship; relates to provisions prohibiting the sale of assault firearms to noncitizens.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 21
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Michael Webert
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to regulation of firearms by state entities; prohibits any state entity from adopting or enforcing any rule, regulation, policy, or administrative action governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combinations thereof unless expressly authorized by statute; invalidates any such rule, regulation, policy, or administrative action adopted by a state entity; relates to a law-enforcement officer.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 21
 
Introduced: 01/16/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Bob Marshall
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to concealed handgun permits; relates to reciprocity; provides that the Superintendent of State Police shall continue to recognize any valid concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state where such state's permit or license was, as of November 1, 2015, recognized by the Superintendent of State Police as authorizing the holder of such permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 21
 
Introduced: 01/18/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to sales tax exemption; relates to gun safes; establishes an exemption from retail sales tax for the purchase of a gun safe with a selling price of $1,000 or less; defines a gun safe as a safe or vault that is commercially available, secured with a digital or dial combination locking mechanism or biometric locking mechanism, and designed for the storage of a firearm or for ammunition for use in a firearm; provides that under the bill a gun safe does not include a glass-faced cabinet.
Status: In House on January 21
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Richard Black  
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to concealed handgun permits; allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.
Status: From Senate Committee on Courts of Justice: Reported favorably on January 20  
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden   
Issue Brief: Guns
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: In Senate Committee on Courts of Justice: Passed by indefinitely on January 20
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden   
Issue Brief: Guns   
Summary: Relates to concealed handgun permits; relates to concealed handgun permits, online training courses, governmental police agency training courses and proof of competence.
Status: In Senate Committee on Courts of Justice: Passed by indefinitely on January 20
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Lynwood Lewis, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: General   
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: In House Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources Subcommittee on Agriculture on January 21  
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Adam Ebbin
Issue Brief: Guns; NICS     
Summary: Relates to transfer of firearms; relates to criminal history record information check; relates to penalties; adds a definition of firearms show vendor or vendor; requires that a criminal history record information check be performed on the prospective transferee before the vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show; provides that under current law, only licensed dealers must obtain such a check; requires that the promoter of a firearms show provide vendors access to licensed dealers.
Status: From Senate Committee on Courts of Justice: Reported as substituted (see S. 220) on January 20   
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Creigh Deeds, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to free fishing days; removes the prohibition against fishing without a license in waters stocked with trout by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or other public body on days designated by the Department as free fishing days.
Status: In House Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources Subcommittee on Agriculture on January 21 


SOUTHEASTERN STATES


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: Passed Senate. To House on January 15

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Charles Dean
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Status: To Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government on January 20  
Introduced: 01/08/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Monford
Issue Brief: Invasive Species  
Summary: Relates to a Florida lionfish education and research consortium.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on January 14 

Georgia H 731
Introduced: 01/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mary Margaret Oliver
Issue Brief: Full Capacity Magazine; Guns; Sound Suppressors; Sporting Rifle
Summary: Prohibits the possession, sale, transport, distribution, or use of certain assault weapons, large capacity magazines, armor-piercing bullets, and incendiary .50 caliber bullets; provides for crimes involving the possession, sale, transport, distribution, or use of certain assault weapons, large capacity magazines, armor-piercing bullets, and incendiary .50 caliber bullets; provides for criminal penalties; designates certain weaponry and ammunition as contraband.
Status: In House: Read Second time on January 13

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Knight, Co-Chair, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Recognizes January 14, 2016, as Sportsmen's and Coastal Day at the capitol.
Status: In House. Read third time. Passed House on January 12
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Robin Webb, President, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses  
Issue Brief: Knife Definitions  
Summary: Prevents county and local governments from regulating knives; removes knives from the definition of a deadly weapon; defines dangerous instrument wherever the term is used in KRS; includes dangerous instruments in provisions concerning deadly weapons.
Status: Introduced on January 19 
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hembree  
Issue Brief: Angling Access 
Summary: Relates to permits required for coastal zone critical areas; allows for individuals to dredge man-made, predominantly armored, recreational use canals and essential access canals in existing navigational canal community developments without having to obtain a permit.
Status: To Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 19  

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jay Reedy, Co-Chair, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General License 
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; authorizes the wildlife resources director to issue permanent lifetime sportsman licenses to residents with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability or a less than 100 percent service-connected disability for which the person is compensated at 100 percent due to unemployability.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 20 

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Pat Marsh, Member, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; creates a lifetime nonresident sportsman license for nonresidents who own real property in this state.
Status: Introduced on January 14 

Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jay Reedy, Co-Chair, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Invasive Species  
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; creates a nine-member task force to make recommendations for statutory changes to protect the state's wildlife and waterways against any detrimental effects of invasive Asian carp.
Status: Introduced on January 19  

Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Steve McDaniel  
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Relates to Environmental Preservation; creates the forum on Tennessee's great outdoors for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review of the health and status of this state's natural resources and outdoor recreation needs and opportunities.
Status: Introduced on January 19  

Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Representative Frank Niceley, Member, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Invasive Species 
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; requires the department of agriculture to issue live wild-appearing swine transport permits; codifies methods by which landowners and their designees may take or trap wild-appearing swine; authorizes landowners to sell live wild-appearing swine.
Status: Introduced on January 13 

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Jim Tracy, Member, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; creates a lifetime nonresident sportsman license for nonresidents who own real property in this state.
Status: Introduced on January 14 

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Jim Tracy, Member, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Laws; authorizes the wildlife resources director to issue permanent lifetime sportsman licenses to residents with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability or a less than 100 percent service-connected disability for which the person is compensated at 100 percent due to unemployability.
Status: Introduced on January 14 
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Mark Green
Issue Brief: Invasive Species  
Summary: Relates to game and fish Laws; creates a nine-member task force to make recommendations for statutory changes to protect the state's wildlife and waterways against any detrimental effects of invasive Asian carp.
Status: Introduced on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Steve Southerland, Member, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Relates to Environmental Preservation; creates the forum on the state's great outdoors for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review of the health and status of this state's natural resources and outdoor recreation needs and opportunities.
Status: Introduced on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Roy Cooper    
Issue Brief: General License   
Summary: Provides a fee discount for certain nonresident hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for native nonresidents.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 13 

Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Ralph Rodighiero     
Issue Brief: Senior; Veterans     
Summary: Exempts all veterans of the Armed Forces or any reserve component thereof from having to obtain a hunting, trapping fishing license.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 13 
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Ron Walters    
Issue Brief: General License 
Summary: Creates a hunting license permitting crossbow hunting.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Gary Howell     
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Provides that residents sixty-five years of age or older are not required to have a license to hunt, trap or fish.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Tom Fast   
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Relates to gasoline and fuel excise tax.
Status: To House Committee on Roads and Transportation on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/18/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Jordan Hill    
Issue Brief: 365 Day License 
Summary: Provides that all hunting and fishing licenses are valid for one year from the date issued.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 18 
 
Introduced: 01/18/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Kelli Sobonya     
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Concerns the Division of Natural Resources, rule relating to general hunting.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 20 
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Isaac Sponaugle      
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt and Fish
Summary: Relates to the Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Bill Hamilton, Member, West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt and Fish
Summary: Relates to the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife Amendment.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/18/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Chris Stansbury, Co-Chair, West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus      
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt and Fish
Summary: Concerns the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 18  
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Jack Yost       
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Allows National Guard and Reserve members free hunting and fishing licenses under certain circumstances.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources on January 13  
 
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Craig Blair
Issue Brief: 365 Day License 
Summary: Provides all hunting and fishing licenses are valid for one year from date of issue.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources on January 15  
 
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Charles Trump       
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt and Fish
Summary: Concerns the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife Amendment.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources on January 13  


MIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Heath VanNatter   
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding 
Summary: Allows an electricity supplier that undertakes a voluntary forestry program involving eligible land to petition the utility regulatory commission to defer and recover approved program costs as part of the electricity supplier's next general rate case; specifies definitions of eligible land for the purposes of an electricity supplier's forestry program.
Status: To House Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications on January 12

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mike Karickhoff, Member, Indiana Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding 
Summary: Renames the Indiana heritage trust fund as the President Benjamin Harrison conservation trust fund; Makes various changes to the purposes of the trust fund; makes changes to the uses of the accounts within the trust fund; repeals the Indiana heritage trust committee; specifies the membership and purposes of the President Benjamin Harrison conservation trust project committee; Provides for the appointment of four members of the general assembly as nonvoting members of the project committee.
Status: To House Committee on Ways and Means on January 12

Introduced: 01/05/2016
Sponsor: Senator Mark Messmer, Member, Indiana Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: High Fence  
Summary: Provides that the department of natural resources may not regulate certain privately owned captive bred wild animal hunting preserves; establishes licensing requirements, inspection requirements and fees; exempts licensed hunting preserves and cervidae livestock operations from certain licensing requirements; requires a transportation or cull tag be affixed to each animal taken on a hunting preserve; prohibits computer assisted remote hunting on hunting preserves.
Status: Amended on Senate Floor. Order engrossed on January 19  
 
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: Passed Senate. To House on January 19

Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative Matt Windschitl   
Issue Brief: Sound Suppressors
Summary: Relates to possessing and transferring firearm suppressors; provides penalties; includes effective date provisions.
Status: In House Committee on Judiciary (Subcommittee assignments: Baxter, Oldson, Windschitl) on January 19

Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kraig Paulsen, Member, Iowa Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Allows fishing without a license on certain private lakes and ponds; provides a penalty.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources on January 15 

Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative Terry Baxter, Co-Chair, Iowa Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the use of a straight wall cartridge rifle to hunt deer; includes penalties.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources on January 15 

Introduced: 10/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Bruce Rendon, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Relates to motor vehicle park permit requirements for nonresident and commercial motor vehicles; provides for an exemption from permit requirements at certain state-operated public boating access sites or state parks on a day designated as a free winter fishing or free fishing day.
Status: To Governor on January 15  
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jered Taylor, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus     
Issue Brief: Outdoor Sporting Tax Holiday 
Summary: Authorizes a sales tax holiday for a new firearm purchased on the Saturday following July fourth.
Status: To House Committee on Ways and Means on January 20   

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ernie Chambers      
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Eliminates provisions relating to hunting mountain Lions.
Status: To Legislative Committee on Natural Resources on January 19    

Introduced: 11/17/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Hill
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Requires that the computation of the capitalization rate for the purposes of determining the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) of agricultural land be computed using a method that excludes appreciation and equity buildup; stipulates that CAUV land used for a conservation practice or enrolled in a federal land retirement or conservation program for at least three years must be valued at the lowest of the values assigned on the basis of soil type.
Status: To House Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight on January 20

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Repeals certain obsolete and unnecessary statutes concerning game preserves and refuges.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 13

Introduced: 04/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative Beth Meyers
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Relates to the authority of a town and of a county to zone shorelands in a town that is located entirely on an island in Lake Superior and authorized to exercise village powers.
Status: Public Hearing held on January 13 
 
Introduced: 07/29/2015
Sponsor: Representative Nick Milroy, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the color of clothing required to be worn during the season for hunting deer with firearms.
Status: In Senate. Placed on Calendar on January 19   
 
Introduced: 11/18/2015
Sponsor: Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Recruitment 
Summary: Authorizes a person to shoot to kill an animal wounded by another person while hunting; provides for youth hunting.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Rules on January 13
 
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Alvin Ott, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to the date on which the annual open season for hunting and trapping wolves begins.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on January 13 

Introduced: 05/05/2015
Sponsor: Senator Frank Lasee, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General   
Summary: Relates to unattended decoys left in water.
Status: In Senate. Placed on Calendar on January 19 


WESTERN STATES 


Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Frank Pratt       
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish Department; relates to military spouses; relates to resident licenses.
Status: Introduced on January 14
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kate Brophy Mcgee      
Issue Brief: Angling Access; Conservation Funding 
Summary: Relates to Game and Fish (G&F); relates to in-lieu fee; relates to trust fund.
Status: Introduced on January 14
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Kerry Donovan, Member, Colorado Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Concerns Wearing fluorescent pink garments to hunt big game.
Status: To Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy on January 19
 
Introduced: 01/26/2015
Sponsor: Representative Karl Rhoads  
Issue Brief: Ivory
Summary: Prohibits ivory and rhinoceros horn sales and trade within the state, to be enforced by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; establishes penalties
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology; additionally referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health; subsequent referral set for: Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor; subsequent referral set for: Senate Committee on Ways and Means on January 21 

Introduced: 01/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Richard Onishi
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes a game commission to serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor and the Board of Land and Natural Resources; makes an appropriation.
Status: Hearing scheduled in House Judiciary Committee at 2:00pm on January 22
 
Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ronald Kouchi
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Establishes the Hawaii apprentice hunting license program; provides for the issuance of a Hawaii apprentice hunting license to program participants; establishes requirements for program participation; exempts holder of an apprentice license from taking the required hunter education class prior to licensure Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Status: Introduced on January 20
 
Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ronald Kouchi
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Proposes an amendment to Article XI of the State Constitution to require the State to manage game animals, subject to guidelines established by the Legislature, for the public's sustained use and enjoyment of game animals as a protected state resource.
Status: Introduced on January 20

Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ronald Kouchi
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Supports game mammal, game bird, and fishing resources in order to promote sustainability and food security and to preserve long standing local and cultural practices.
Status: Introduced on January 20

Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Bealquin Bill Gomez       
Issue Brief: Budget Bills  
Summary: Relates to game and fish; clarifies that the purpose of the big game depredation damage fund includes compensation of landowners for the financial damages caused by big game.
Status: To House Committee on Rules and Order of Business on January 19   
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kelly Fajardo, Member, New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School   
Summary: Affirms the importance of environmental education; requests the declaration of an environmental education week and requesting that the Department of Game and Fish lead a study for a grant program to increase environmental education opportunities for students.
Status: To House Committee on Government, Elections and Indians Affairs on January 19   
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator William Soules
Issue Brief: General    
Summary: Recognizes and honors the public lands legacy in New Mexico.
Status: Pre-filed on January 14 
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
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: Introduced on January 19  
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Gael Tarleton 
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding
Summary: Provides funding for steelhead conservation through the issuance of fish license plate collection.
Status: To House Committee on Transportation on January 13 

Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Representative Steve Tharinger  
Issue Brief: Budget Bills; Conservation Funding
Summary: Implements the recommendations of the 2015 review of the wildlife and recreation program.
Status: Scheduled for public hearing in the house Committee on Capital Budget at 3:30 pm on January 26 

Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Representative Dan Griffey   
Issue Brief: Hunter Education 
Summary: Provides funding for the hunter education training program through the issuance of national rifle association special license plates.
Status: To House Committee on Transportation on January 14

Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dean Takko, Co-Chair, Washington Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License  
Summary: State migratory bird permit fee is increased from $15 to $25. A migratory
bird account is created for revenue collected from the migratory bird permit.
Status: Scheduled public hearing in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks at 1:30 pm on January 27 

Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee
Issue Brief: Budget Bills   
Summary: Relates to game and fish; authorizes the game and fish commission to establish fees and time periods for special management permits as specified; specifies the use of the fees collected; provides for an effective date.
Status: Pre-filed on January 15   
        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: 
 
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

Southeastern States Manager Bee Frederick, at 334.593.6988, or email bee@sportsmenslink.org

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


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