Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Concerns sport fishing licenses for anglers who are sixty-five years of age or older; establishes a fee for anglers who are age sixty-five or older in order to reflect the changing demographics of persons engaged in such fishing in the state.
Status: Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 18
Introduced: 03/03/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Ivory Ban
Summary: Prohibits the sale and trade of ivory and rhinoceros horn in the state.
Status: Filed with Legislative Commissioner's Office on March 17
Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Concerns the suspension of a hunting or fishing license for failure to appear, pay or plea in a hunting or fishing violation case; establishes consistency with other states that are part of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact by providing for the suspension of a hunting or fishing license when a person is cited for a violation of such license and fails to appear in court or respond to such citation.
Status: Reissued by Legislative Commissioner's Office with File No. 125 on March 22
Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: General; American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Concerns the authority of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection; establishes a trout stamp.
Status: Filed with Legislative Commissioner's Office on March 17
Introduced: 02/24/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Trophy Importation Ban
Summary: To prohibit the import, sale and trade of big-game hunting trophies from overseas.
Status: Filed with Legislative Commissioner's Office on March 17
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Memorializes the United States congress to permanently preserve Plum Island as a national wildlife refuge.
Status: Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 18
Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Joseph Martin, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue any hunting or fishing license at a reduced rate to a nonresident who owns more than 250 acres of land in this State and keeps that land open for hunting.
Status: Signed by Governor (Public Law No. 401) on March 18
Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Duchesne, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Wildlife Council for Public Education
Summary: Summary This bill directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish a comprehensive marketing program for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife that is led and coordinated by a dedicated marketing specialist, whose position is required to be created within the department's Division of Public Information and Education.
Status: In House. Engrossed as amended by Committee Amendment A on March 23
Introduced: 02/17/2016
Sponsor: Representative Robert Duchesne, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Game Meat Donation Programs; General
Summary: This bill establishes contingent wildlife management provisions that become effective when a ballot measure for a direct initiative of legislation is approved that reduces wildlife management methods available to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The provisions of this bill apply only to the animals that are significantly affected either directly or indirectly by the approved ballot measure. The bill does the following. 1. It places a cap on the revenue the Commissioner of Inland Fish
Status: In Senate. Passed to be engrossed in concurrence on March 23
Introduced: 03/17/2016
Sponsor: Office of Legislative Requests
Issue Brief: General; National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
Summary: This initiated bill requires a background check before a firearm sale or transfer between individuals not licensed as firearm dealers. If neither party to a sale or transfer has a federal firearms license, the parties meet at a licensed firearm dealer, who conducts a background check on the transferee and completes the sale or transfer as though selling or transferring from the dealer's own inventory. Exceptions to the background check requirement are made for transfers between family members, while.
Status: Introduced. Filed as LR 2773
Introduced: 03/02/2016
Sponsor: Senator Paul Davis, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Makes the following changes to the law regarding the incidental take of an endangered or threatened species. 1. It authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create a widespread activity incidental take plan when the commissioner determines that the activity is widespread and conducted by a reasonably identifiable group of participants as long as: A. The activity poses a manageable risk of taking an endangered or threatened species; b. Any taking would be incidental to an otherwise/.
Status: In Senate. Passed to be engrossed on March 23
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Caroline County Delegation
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
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: Passed House. To Senate. To Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on March 21
Introduced: 01/25/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Dana Stein
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive
Summary: Alters provisions of law concerning a credit against the State income tax for specified preservation and conservation easements to allow an individual or a member of a pass-through entity to claim the credit for an easement conveyed to the Maryland Environmental Trust, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, or the Department of Natural Resources under specified circumstances; requires the Board of Public Works to approve tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Jay Jacobs, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Authorizes in Kent County a person to catch gizzard shad, also known as mud shad, carp, or catfish with a haul seine during the period from Friday midnight until sunrise on Monday under specified circumstances; requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt specified regulations.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on April 5
Introduced: 02/01/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Glen Glass
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes that the safety zone for archery hunters in Harford County extends for 50 yards from a dwelling house, residence, church, or any other building or camp occupied by human beings within which archery hunting may not take place except under specified circumstances.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on April 5
Introduced: 02/12/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Anthony O'Donnell, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Establishes an apprentice hunting license that confers specified rights on a purchaser of the license; authorizes a person to obtain a license without having first been issued a certificate of competency in firearms and hunter safety; authorizes specified persons to hunt under a license only if accompanied and directly supervised by specified other persons; prohibits the renewal of a license; establishes specified fees for resident and nonresident apprentice hunting licenses.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 02/12/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Ned Carey, Co-Chair, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue a complimentary angler's license, Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license, or hunting license and any associated State-issued stamps or permits to a person who is a member of the armed services or a veteran and has a service-connected disability.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on April 5
Introduced: 02/12/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Matt Morgan
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management -- Hunting as a preferred Management Tool
Summary: Authorizes an individual who Holds a Deer Management Permit in Charles County and St. Mary's County to use a shotgun or breech loading center fired rifle approved by the Department of Natural Resources to hunt deer throughout the year, including all deer hunting seasons, in the locations and under the conditions set forth in the permit.
Status: To Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on March 21
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Delegate Justin Ready
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
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: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 30
Introduced: 01/22/2016
Sponsor: Senator Johnny Salling
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Requires a person convicted of violating certain provisions involving certain deer to pay the State certain fines in accordance with certain requirements; requires certain fines collected to be credited to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund; requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt certain regulations.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 01/29/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Waugh, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Authorizes an individual who Holds a Deer Management Permit in Charles County and St. Mary's County to use a shotgun or breech loading center fired rifle approved by the Department of Natural Resources to hunt deer throughout the year, including all deer hunting seasons, in the locations and under the conditions set forth in the permit.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 02/05/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bryan Simonaire, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Authorizes a person to purchase and donate specified recreational hunting or fishing licenses and any corresponding stamps for specified purposes; authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue a donated license or stamp only for use by a disabled veteran, a disabled member of the armed services, or a permanently disabled person who requires the use of a wheelchair; prohibits the Department from charging a fee for the issuance of a donated license or stamp.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 02/05/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Waugh, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: License (General)
Summary: Requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt regulations that provide the option to a tidal fish licensee authorized to catch crabs using trotlines and crab pots to work specified hours from July 15 through September 15 of any year; requires a licensee who chooses a specified hours-of-work option to notify the Department of that choice by a specified date; prohibits a licensee who chooses a specified hours-of-work option from changing that option until the following license year.
Status: Hearing scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 29
Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Senator Joan Carter Conway
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Repeals provisions of law that authorize Sunday deer hunting on private property in specified counties during specified times of the year under specified circumstances; authorizes a person to hunt deer on a Sunday, with specified exceptions, on private property during deer firearms season and deer muzzleloader season from one half hour before sunrise until 10:30 a.m.
Status: From Senate Committee on Rules: Reported unfavorably on March 23
Introduced: 02/24/2016
Sponsor: Senator Adelaide Eckerdt, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Authorizes an individual who Holds a Deer Management Permit in Talbot County to use a shotgun or breech loading center fired rifle, approved by the Department of Natural Resources, to hunt deer throughout the year under specified circumstances; authorizes the Department to authorize an individual to hunt deer on Sundays in Talbot County under specified circumstances.
Status: Hearing Scheduled for 1:00 PM on March 30
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: Public hearing scheduled for March 31
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 Senate. To House for concurrence on March 17
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mark Proulx, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Prohibits carrying in a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, aircraft, or boat, a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun that has a round in the chamber and the safety in the off position.
Status: To Senate Committee on Transportation on March 17
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Kidder, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General; License (General)
Summary: Allows the fish and game department to establish 2 days per year for fishing without a license but requires persons in fishing tournaments to have a license on those days; 16-2295 10/01.
Status: To Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 17
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Gene Chandler, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
Summary: Relates to damage to private property; creates a cause of action for a landowner whose land is damaged by pollution, or off highway recreation vehicle or snowmobile use.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 23
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative James Spillane
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Allows a person who has purchased a muzzleloader license to hunt deer with a crossbow; 16-2018 04/10.
Status: From Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Ought to pass on March 23
Introduced: 03/22/2016
Sponsor: Assembly Member Aileen Gunther, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Authorizes the taking of wildlife by the use of a crossbow; makes related provisions.
Status: Introduced. To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 22
Introduced: 02/03/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tony Avella
Issue Brief: Knife Definition
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; includes machetes within the definition of a deadly weapon.
Status: From Senate Committee on Codes on March 22
Introduced: 03/23/2015
Sponsor: Representative Dan Moul, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Access Private Lands
Summary: Amends the act of February 2, 1965 (P.L.1860, No.586), entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing certain acts;" provides for liability for landowners to recreational users; provides for attorney fees and court costs.
Status: In House. Removed from table on March 17
Introduced: 07/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Keith Gillespie, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Relates to the Pennsylvania Game Commission; provides for junior hunter projects; relates to hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for a volunteer instructor license and further provides for license costs and fees and for unlawful acts concerning licenses.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on March 23
Introduced: 02/03/2015
Sponsor: Senator Richard Alloway, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking; provides for tagging and reporting big game kills.
Status: To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 22
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 March 22
Introduced: 03/18/2016
Sponsor: Senator Pat Stafano
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Game Commission; provides for powers and duties of commission; in hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for license costs and fees.
Status: In Senate. Read first time on March 23
Introduced: 03/21/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Maloney, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Amends Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; provides for power to set fees by regulation; in fiscal affairs; provides for collection fee for uncollectible checks; in fishing licenses; provides for nonresident and tourist licenses, for one-day resident fishing license, for license, permit and issuing agent fees and for license and permit packaging options; in special licenses and permits; provides for net permits.
Status: In Senate. Read first time on March 23
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative J. Aaron Regunberg
Issue Brief: Standard 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: In House Committee on Judiciary: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study on March 22
Introduced: 02/10/2016
Sponsor: Representative Stephen Ucci
Issue Brief: Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Summary: Allows individuals with concealed carry permits issued by Massachusetts, Connecticut and any other state with a live fire requirement to carry concealed firearms within this state.
Status: In House Committee on Judiciary: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study on March 22
Introduced: 03/03/2016
Sponsor: Representative Grace Diaz
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Would make it unlawful to carry a rifle or shotgun in a vehicle or on one's person, visible or concealed, except at one's residence, place of business or land, and would further create penalties for the unlawful conveyance of a firearm to a person under the age of eighteen (18) that is used in a violent crime of violence. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: In House Committee on Judiciary: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study on March 22
Introduced: 03/03/2016
Sponsor: Representative Raymond Johnston
Issue Brief: National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
Summary: Would provide that no person, entity, or dealer shall sell, loan, transfer or acquire a firearm from any person, entity or dealer with the intent to avoid the application/disclosure process required by Sections 11-47-35 or 11-47-35.2. The act of loaning or transferring a gun to a person who may lawfully possess a gun for lawful purposes such as hunting or target shooting would be exempt from this prohibition. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: In House Committee on Judiciary: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study on March 22
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Amy Sheldon
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to threatened and endangered species.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 23
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative David Deen, Member, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows; Enforcement; Firearm Suppressors; Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Relates to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on March 17
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mary Sullivan
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Credit
Summary: Relates to conservation easements.
Status: Passed House. To Senate on March 17
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Representative Amy Sheldon
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to forest integrity and municipal and regional planning.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on March 23
Introduced: 02/23/2016
Sponsor: House Natural Resources and Energy Committee
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the conduct of forestry operations.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on March 23
