Introduced: 02/02/2016
Sponsor: Representative Alan Boothe
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a preferred Management Tool; General
Summary: Relates to hunting; allows the taking of whitetail deer or feral swine by means of bait; requires that bait be contained.
Status: To Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on March 1
Introduced: 03/01/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Sessions
Issue Brief: General; Marine Spatial Plan
Summary: Supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in efforts to establish living shorelines; urges the corps to issue a new nationwide permit for living shorelines.
Status: Passed House. To Senate. To Senate Committee on Rules on March 3
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Katie Edwards
Issue Brief: Freshwater 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: In House. Pending review of Committee Substitute under Rule 7.19(c) on February 26
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Matt Caldwell, Member, Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Freshwater Angling Access; Enforcement
Summary: Relates to recreational boating zones; prohibits overnight anchoring or mooring of vessels in specified recreational boating zones.
Status: In House. Placed on Third Reading on March 3
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Miguel Diaz
Issue Brief: Freshwater 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; authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to delegate federal permitting programs for the discharge of such material; deletes certain conditions limiting when the Department may assume federal permits.
Status: Passed Senate. To House. In House. In Messages on March 2
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Wilton Simpson
Issue Brief: Freshwater Angling Access
Summary: Relates to anchoring limitation areas; prohibits overnight anchoring or mooring of vessels in specified anchoring limitation areas; provides exceptions; provides for the removal and impoundment of vessels under certain circumstances; provides penalties; provides for violations to be enforced by the issuance of a uniform boating citation; provides penalties.
Status: In Senate. Placed on Special Order Calendar on March 4
Introduced: 02/29/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kevin Sinnette
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes a disabled hunter postseason elk hunt; defines elk zone and make eligible only those who are able to qualify for a disabled hunter license; sets the number of permits for the hunt at not more than ten percent of the total number of permits allotted for the regular quota hunt; requires hunters drawn for the disabled hunter post season elk hunt to comply with all hunting laws, both state and federal; requires the department to attempt to ensure disability access to areas in the elk zone.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on March 1
Introduced: 02/08/2016
Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday
Summary: Revises the time for the sales tax exemption for retail sales of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies from the first weekend in September to the last weekend in August.
Status: Transmitted to Senate on March 2
Introduced: 02/08/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jason White, Member, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Exotic Invasive Species; General
Summary: Extends the repealer on the provision of law that prohibits the importation and transportation of any live feral hog, wild swine or Russian boar, and provides that such wild hogs may be caught, trapped or transported by permit holders.
Status: Transmitted to Senate on March 2
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: License (General)
Summary: Revises the fees required for hunting and fishing licenses for related purposes.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 1
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General; Exotic Invasive Species
Summary: Removes the permit for the transport of wild hogs; provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to transport wild hogs on public roads, to prohibit a person from releasing a wild hog at a location different from the location where the wild hog was caught or trapped, and to remove the permit for the transport of wild hogs; for purposes of possible amendments for related purposes.
Status: Died in Committee on March 2
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Representative Scott Bounds, Co-Chair, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to develop a program for tagging white-tailed deer and wild turkey for related purposes.
Status: Died in Committee on March 1
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Representative Herb Frierson, Member, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council
Issue Brief: Knife Preemption
Summary: Provides that no county, municipality or political subdivision thereof shall adopt any ordinance, rule or regulation restricting the possession, sale, purchase, transfer, licensing, manufacture, ownership or use of a knife, knife making components or knives in a manner more restrictive than provided by law.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 2
Introduced: 02/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Scott DeLano, Member, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Creates a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund; provides that monies in the special fund shall be used by the Department of Marine Resources based upon the recommendation of the Board of trustees of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund to provide assistance to entities for the purpose of promoting ecological habitat, promoting economic development and overall community benefit.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 2
Introduced: 02/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Joseph Seymour, Member, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement; General
Summary: Clarifies the prohibition against hunting on any street, public road, public highway, levee, or railroad.
Status: Passed Senate. To House on March 2
Introduced: 02/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Bill Hixon, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management: Hunting as a preferred Management Tool; General
Summary: Relates to the issuance of annual individual anterless deer tags; revises the procedure whereby the Department of Natural Resources issues and charges a person for the privilege of hunting and taking deer in this state; relates to the collection and disposition of revenues generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and tags; substitutes the term antlerless deer quota permit for the term deer quota program permit.
Status: Amended on House Floor on March 2
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Chip Campsen, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to hunting and fishing licenses; provides that a person must have immediate access and authorization to utilize deer quota tags to hunt on property with a deer quota program permit; provides for the deer quota program and requirements for application; provides that a person must possess a set of individual deer tags to hunt on property without a deer quota program permit; sets the deer tag fees for in and out-of-state residents; relates to bag limits and authority over game zones.
Status: From House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs: Reported favorable with amendment on February 25
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hembree
Issue Brief: Fresh Water Angling Access
Summary: Permits maintenance dredging by individuals of certain existing navigational canal community developments authorized by a permit from the United States army corps of engineers pursuant to the federal clean water act, as amended, or the Rivers and harbors act.
Status: Amended on House floor on March 2
Introduced: 02/24/2016
Sponsor: Senator Chip Campsen
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to size limits for certain fish that may be lawfully taken, possessed, landed, or purchased; increases the size limit for flounder that may be lawfully taken, possessed, landed, or sold.
Status: To Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry on February 24
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Mark Green
Issue Brief: Exotic 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: To Senate Committee on Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources on March 2
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: To Senate Committee on Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources with negative recommendation on February 24
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Barry Knight, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to damaged duck blinds in Virginia Beach; requires a person who holds a duck blind license for a stationary blind located in the City of Virginia Beach to notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries when his blind has been abandoned, is in a state of disrepair, or does not meet the duck blind standards; requires placement of PVC pipe markers and reflective markers.
Status: Passed Senate. To House for Concurrence (39-0) on March 1
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Michael Webert, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
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: House concurred in Senate amendments on March 2
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Kaye Kory
Issue Brief: Exotic 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: Eligible for Governor's desk on March 2
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: Eligible for Governor's desk on March 2
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: Signed by Governor. Act of Assembly (Chapter No. 47) on February 26
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Delegate R. Lee Ware
Issue Brief: Enforcement; Hunting with 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: Eligible for Governor's desk on March 2
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: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 45) On February 26
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Carrico
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to black vultures; relates to the control of black vultures; adds such creatures to the list of wildlife that pose a danger to agricultural animals; changes the name of the Virginia Cooperative Coyote Damage Control Program to the Virginia Cooperative Wildlife Damage Management Program.
Status: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 59) On February 29
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Lynwood Lewis, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to crab pots; relates to recreational gear license; relates to turtle excluder device; directs the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to require that turtle reduction devices be attached to each crab pot covered by a recreational gear license.
Status: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 136) On March 1
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: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 63) On March 1
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Ryan McDougle
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife 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: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 64) On March 1
Introduced: 01/13/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bryce Reeves
Issue Brief: Guns
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.
Status: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 46) On March 1
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator John Edwards
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to firearms shows; relates to voluntary background checks; requires the Department of State Police to be available at every firearms show held in the Commonwealth to make determinations regarding whether a prospective purchaser or transferee is prohibited from possessing a firearm; provides for certain fees; sets forth requirements of promoters.
Status: Signed by Governor. Acts of Assembly (Chapter No. 44) On March 1
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Craig Blair
Issue Brief: Licenses (General)
Summary: Relates to hunting and fishing license; provides Class L resident five-day fishing license; defines Class L license as a resident fishing license and entitles the licensee to fish for all legal fish except trout and to take frogs in all counties of the state for five consecutive calendar dates chosen by the buyer and which will be specified on the license.
Status: To House Committee on Government Organization on March 1
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Robert Karnes
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requests study of fiscal impact of relatives of landowner to hunt, trap and fish without obtaining license.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on February 25
