Introduced: 06/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Debra Heffernan
Issue Brief: General
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: Eligible for Governor's desk on January 27
Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Senator Paul Davis, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Endangered Species Act
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 February 2
Introduced: 01/29/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Anthony O'Donnell, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Requires a person convicted of poaching deer on privately owned land to pay the State restitution in accordance with specified requirements; authorizes a person convicted of poaching deer on privately owned land to pay a specified amount of restitution instead of performing community service under specified circumstances; requires specified restitution collected to be credited to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund; requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt specified regulations.
Status: In House Committee on Environment and Transportation on February 17
Introduced: 02/01/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Glen Glass
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes a person to hunt deer on private property in Harford County with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on specified Sundays during October, November, and January, subject to specified provisions of law.
Status: To House Committee on Environment and Transportation on February 1
Introduced: 02/01/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Glen Glass
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt deer on a Sunday during the deer bow hunting season on private property, subject to specified provisions of law; makes specified conforming changes.
Status: To House Committee on Environment and Transportation on February 1
Introduced: 02/01/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Glen Glass
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes a person to hunt deer on private property with a bow and arrow or crossbow during open season on a Sunday in the second half of January, as designated by the Department of Natural Resources, subject to specified provisions of law.
Status: To House Committee on Environment and Transportation on February 1
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Robert Cassilly
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to state designations; relates to state duck.
Status: To Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on January 13
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Senator Johnny Salling
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Requires a person convicted of poaching deer on privately owned land to pay the State restitution in accordance with specified requirements; authorizes a person convicted of poaching deer on privately owned land to pay a specified amount of restitution instead of performing community service under specified circumstances; requires specified restitution collected to be credited to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund; requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt specified regulations.
Status: In Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on February 9
Introduced: 01/29/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Waugh, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Summary: Specifies that a permit to carry a handgun issued to an individual in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or West Virginia is valid in Maryland.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judicial Proceeding on January 29
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dan Feltes
Issue Brief: Deer Management
Summary: Prohibits the feeding of wild deer at certain times and locations determined by the fish and game department and requires the labeling of wild animal feed; the bill requires the fish and game department to distribute informational materials; 16-2945 10/01.
Status: Hearing scheduled for February 10
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Parker Space, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Increases membership of Fish and Game Council; clarifies it has sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Parker Space, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: No-net-loss
Summary: Provides for no net loss of Department of Environmental Protection lands for fishing, hunting, and trapping purposes.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Sean Kean, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires Department of Environmental Protection to establish artificial reef plan for commercial and recreational fishing.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Sean Kean, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes restrictions and requirements for use of fishing gear and conch, fishing, and lobster pots on artificial reefs.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Tim Eustace
Issue Brief: Animal Traps
Summary: Prohibits use of snares in trapping of wildlife.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting Dogs
Summary: Authorizes use of tracking dog to search for and recover wild deer during prescribed hunting season.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced: 03/24/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering
Summary: Relates to outdoor restraints of companion animals; prohibits tethering for more than 3 hours or a time approved by in writing by animal control but not to exceed 12 hours in any 24 hour period; prohibits tethering when a weather advisory or warning is in effect; tethered dogs must be free of cruel conditions or inhumane tethering.
Status: Amended in Assembly Committee on Agriculture on February 2
Introduced: 04/27/2015
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Issue Brief: Game Meat Donations
Summary: Amends the Tax Law; relates to establishing the venison donation tax credit.
Status: Amended in Assembly Committee on Ways and Means on February 2
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: Amended in Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations on January 14
Introduced: 02/03/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tony Avella
Issue Brief: Knife Definitions
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; includes machetes within the definition of a deadly weapon.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 6
Introduced: 02/26/2015
Sponsor: Senator James Seward, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Animal Traps
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; exempts traps set in water from the requirement that they be visited once every 24 hours; such traps shall be visited once every 48 hours or a Shorter interval as determined by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 03/02/2015
Sponsor: Senator Patrick Gallivan, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Game Meat Donations
Summary: Amends the Tax Law; relates to establishing the venison donation tax credit.
Status: Amended in Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations on January 12
Introduced: 03/05/2015
Sponsor: Senator Thomas O'Mara, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to the cost of various hunting, fishing and trapping licenses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 03/17/2015
Sponsor: Senator John Bonacic, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; requires the commissioner of environmental conservation to promote education in hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 04/01/2015
Sponsor: Senator Kenneth Lavelle
Issue Brief: Deer Management
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the time period for the taking of deer in the county of Suffolk from December on a certain date and March on a certain date.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Rich Funke, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides hunter safety instructors with a free hunting license in consideration for such services for the next license year beginning after the date the course was completed.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 6
Introduced: 10/21/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brad Hoylman
Issue Brief: Anti; Trophy Importation
Summary: Prohibits the possession and transport of priority species animals and body parts at airports and port facilities of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; includes the endangered African elephant, Loxodonta africana; African leopard, Panthera pardus; African lion, Panthera leo; black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis; and white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum.
Status: To Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions on January 6
Introduced: 11/09/2015
Sponsor: Representative Mike Vereb
Issue Brief: Ivory
Summary: Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the State Consolidated Statutes; amends, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses; prohibits the import, sale, purchase, barter or possession of ivory or rhinoceros horn.
Status: Re-referred to House Committee on Judiciary on January 27
Introduced: 11/30/2015
Sponsor: Representative Barry Joswiak
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. Laid on table on January 27
Introduced: 01/28/2016
Sponsor: Representative Charlene Lima
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Would require timely review of any application for a permit to carry a concealed weapon and would allow judicial review of adverse administrative decisions regarding such applications. It would also codify applications to the attorney general. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 28
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to allowing the sale of wildlife products; authorizes the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to adopt regulations that allow a licensed hunter or trapper to manufacture and sell products made from wildlife that he has legally harvested, except when the manufacturing or sale of such products is detrimental to public health or sound wildlife management.
Status: Committee substitute printed on February 3
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Steve Landes
Issue Brief: Enforcement
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: In House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources on February 3
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Modern 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: Passed House. To Senate on February 3
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Kaye Kory
Issue Brief: Invasive Species
Summary: Relates to zebra mussels; relates to education program; requires the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to establish a program of education in methods of preventing zebra mussels or other nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species from infesting Virginia waters; provides that the bill requires the program to include cleaning and draining guidelines, designated dry times, a standard boat inspection form, and public outreach.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources on February 3
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Michael Webert, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Summary: Relates to recognition of out-of-state concealed handgun permits; provides that a holder of a concealed handgun permit issued by any state who is at least 21 years of age is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia; requires the Attorney General to enter into agreements for reciprocal recognition with other States that require an agreement to be in place before the state will recognize a Virginia concealed handgun permit as valid in the state; current law recognizes concealed handgun permits is.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on February 2
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 February 3
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: NICS
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 February 2
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Ryan McDougle
Issue Brief: State Management Authority
Summary: Relates to the hunting of coyotes; relates to county or city ordinances; adds the hunting of coyotes to the list of firearm-hunting topics about which a county or city is authorized to adopt ordinances; provides that current law allows the governing body of a county or city to adopt ordinances prohibiting hunting with certain types of shotguns, permitting groundhog hunting under certain conditions, permitting hunting with muzzleloaders, and specifying permissible ammunition types.
Status: Passed Senate. To House on February 3
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kesha Ram
Issue Brief: Forest Management
Summary: Relates to miscellaneous timber harvesting, forestry, and state lands issues.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on January 29
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Representative George Till
Issue Brief: NICS
Summary: Relates to possession and transfer of firearms.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 28
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patrick Brennan, Co-Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Relates to the use of gun suppressors for hunting.
Status: To House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources on January 28