Introduced: 06/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Debra Heffernan
Issue Brief: Catch Share
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: In Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Control on January 27
Introduced: 03/06/2015
Sponsor: Representative Michael Shaw, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: This bill amends the laws concerning permits to carry concealed handguns by: 1. Making the Chief of the State Police the sole issuing authority for a permit to carry concealed handguns; 2. Extending the term of a permit to carry concealed handguns from 4 years to 10 years; and 3. Removing the requirement that a course that includes handgun safety taken by an applicant for a permit to carry concealed handguns must have been taken by the applicant within 5 years prior to the date of application.
Status: Work Session held on January 27
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Andre Cushing, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Ammunition; Guns
Summary: Prohibits a rental agreement for the provision of public housing from containing a provision requiring a tenant to agree to a prohibition on the lawful ownership, use, possession, bearing or transportation of a firearm, firearm component or ammunition on or within the premises by a tenant, tenant's household member or guest.
Status: Filed as LR 2539 on January 20
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Carroll County Delegation
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands; Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes a person to hunt turkey on private property on Sundays during the spring turkey hunting season in Carroll County; makes the Act an emergency measure.
Status: To House Committee on Environment and Transportation on January 21
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Caroline County Delegation
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands; Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person in Caroline County to hunt any game bird or game mammal, except migratory game birds and wetland game birds, on a Sunday on specified land during the open season for that game bird or game mammal; makes specified conforming changes.
Status: To House Committee on Environment and Transportation on January 21
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bryan Simonaire, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue specified complimentary hunting and fishing licenses to an out-of-state person who certifies that the person is a former prisoner of war, or a 100% service connected disabled American veteran, under specified circumstances; requires the Department to implement a program to provide specified discounted licenses to recipients of the Purple Heart Award.
Status: In Senate Committee on Education, Health & Environmental Affairs on February 9
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative Paul Frost
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the Powers and duties of the Director of Fisheries and Wildlife in the management and control of wildlife.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative William Strauss
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes bow and arrow hunting on Sundays.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative Nicholas Boldyga, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Full Capacity Magazines
Summary: Relates to the purchasing of rifles, shotguns and feeding devices.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative James Miceli, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Firearm Preemption
Summary: Prohibits local ordinances or Laws regulating firearms and weapons.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative David Vieira, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to the transportation of firearms by non-residents.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 03/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Nicholas Boldyga, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Permits hunting on Sundays.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
Introduced: 03/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Nicholas Boldyga, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows; General
Summary: Permits the use of crossbows to hunt deer during exclusive archery season.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 414 on January 25
Introduced: 03/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Carmine Gentile
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Repeals hunting restrictions on Sundays.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
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 Senate Committee on Rules on January 25
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 Senate Committee on Ways and Means on January 25
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Relates to hunting with a bow and arrow.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows; General
Summary: Relates to the use of crossbows in hunting.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 414 on January 25
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Relates to Sunday hunting.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 415 on January 25
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Relates to the use of crossbows.
Status: From Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Accompanied by Bill S 414 on January 25
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns; Recruitment
Summary: Regulates the issuance of firearms identification cards.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to firearm owners protection.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Relates to suppressors.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Donald Humason, Member, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns; Sporting Rifles
Summary: Repeals the ban on modern sporting rifles.
Status: Scheduled hearing pending for January 28
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Clyde Carson
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Allows a veteran with a disability rating of at least 60 percent from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to receive a special hunting and fishing license upon payment of an administrative fee only; 16-2791 10/09.
Status: Filed as LR 2791 on January 20
Introduced: 04/27/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to the illegal taking of deer.
Status: Amended in Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 27
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Dan Quart
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 Assembly Committee on Codes on January 19
Introduced: 01/25/2016
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Vivian Cook
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; requires copies of fish and wildlife Laws be made available to public anywhere fishing licenses are sold and requires posting of advisories on restrictions on fishing in particular bodies of water at specified locations.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 25
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tom O'Mara, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Appreciation in Schools
Summary: Relates to hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 01/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Carl Marcellino
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Amends the Tax Law; makes technical corrections to the conservation easement tax credit.
Status: To Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations on January 6
Introduced: 01/30/2015
Sponsor: Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; protects certain information on hunting, fishing and trapping license and permit applications from disclosure or release outside of the department of environmental conservation.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 02/02/2015
Sponsor: Senator William Larkin
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides for lifetime sportsman licenses for honorably discharged, disabled veterans.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 02/02/2015
Sponsor: Senator Rich Funke, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides an exemption from requirements for fishing licenses for members of the U.S. armed Forces who are on leave from active military duty.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 02/02/2015
Sponsor: Senator Catharine Young, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors; Veterans
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to residents of the state who are active duty members of the U.S. armed Forces regardless of where such person is stationed.
Status: To Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs on January 6
Introduced: 02/02/2015
Sponsor: Senator Patty Ritchie, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to create gift cards for hunting and fishing licenses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 05/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative David Maloney, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for eligibility for license; provides for hunter education in public schools.
Status: In Senate Committee on game and Fisheries on January 26
Introduced: 11/30/2015
Sponsor: Representative Dan Miller
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes; provides for trespass on private property while hunting.
Status: In House Committee on Game and Fisheries on January 27
Introduced: 11/30/2015
Sponsor: Representative Barry Jozwiak
Issue Brief: Hunting Dogs
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking; provides for dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game.
Status: In House Committee on Game and Fisheries on January 27
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Senator Mario Scavello
Issue Brief: Hunting Dogs
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking; provides for dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game.
Status: To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on January 22
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Representative Cale Keable
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Would provide for the creation of a new position in the fish and wildlife division of the department of environmental management, and would place oversight of freshwater lakes, streams, and ponds, in the fish and wildlife division. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: To House Committee on Finance on January 22
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Representative William O'Brien
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Would increase the penalty for cruelty to animals, the malicious injury or killing of animals, from not more than two (2) years to not more than five (5) years, and would increase the mandatory community service from ten (10) hours to fifty (50) hours. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 22
Introduced: 01/25/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patrick Brennan, Co-Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Range Protection; Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Relates to use of firearm suppressors at sport shooting ranges.
Status: To House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources on January 26
Introduced: 01/25/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patrick Brennan, Co-Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Relates to use of gun suppressors at sport shooting ranges.
Status: To House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources on January 26
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Brenda Pogge
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to hunting from a waterfowl blind; requires any person who is applying for a blind license to possess a valid hunting license; provides that if a person hunts waterfowl without possessing a basic hunting license, he is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Matt Fariss
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to hunting with a slingshot; allows the hunting of wild birds and wild animals, except deer, bear, elk, and turkey, with a slingshot unless shooting is expressly prohibited.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Matt Fariss
Issue Brief: Enforcement; Hunting Dogs
Summary: Relates to trespass by hunters using dogs; punishes as a Class 3 misdemeanor the intentional release by a person of hunting dogs on the lands of another to hunt without the consent of the landowner; punishes a second or subsequent offense committed within three years as a Class 1 misdemeanor and provides for the revocation of the person's hunting license for a period of one year upon conviction.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 21
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to firearms shows; relates to voluntary background checks; relates to penalties; requires the Department of State Police to be available to perform background checks for non-dealer sales at gun shows if requested by a party involved in a transaction; the promoter of the firearms shall furnish the Department of State Police sufficient facilities to perform the background checks.
Status: To House Committee on Miltia, Police and Public Safety on January 27
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dick 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: In Senate on Third Reading on January 27
Introduced: 01/13/2016
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: In Senate Courts and Justice Committee on January 27
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Marsden
Issue Brief: Full Capacity Magazines; Guns
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: In Senate Courts and Justice Committee on January 27
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Lewis Lynwood, 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 Senate on Third Reading (Uncontested Calendar) on January 27
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 Senate on Third Reading (Uncontested Calendar) on January 27
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator Emmett Hanger, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to Concealed Carry Reciprocity Advisory Commission; establishes the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Advisory Commission (the Commission) as a legislative commission; provides that the Commission will review the laws of other States to determine whether the Commonwealth should recognize concealed handgun or concealed weapon permits in other States and will approve the entering into and rescinding of reciprocity agreements with other States.
Status: In Senate Courts of Justice Committee on January 27
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator John Edwards
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to firearms shows; relates to voluntary background checks; relates to penalties.
Status: In Senate Courts and Justice Committee on January 27