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 

April 11, 2016
NORTHEASTERN STATES 
 

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.
Status: To Joint Committee on Judiciary on April 13
 
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: To Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding on April 11
 
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: To Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 13
 
Introduced: 03/16/2016
Sponsor: Representative William Carson, Co-Chair, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary: Amends Title 7 of the Delaware Code relating to hunting. Allows for the hunting of deer on private land on Sundays.
Status: Reassigned to House Committee on Agriculture on April 12  
 
Introduced: 03/24/2016
Sponsor: Representative Patricia Blevins
Issue Brief: Hunting with Dogs
Summary: Reassigns the responsibility of dog control and dangerous dog management from the counties of this state to the Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Animal Welfare, and updates procedures for handling dangerous and potentially dangerous dog hearings for a more fair and equitable process. The bill also reassigns the responsibility for stray livestock response from the Delaware SPCA to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, with support from animal welfare officers.
Status: From Senate Committee on Health and Social Services: Reported without recommendations on April 13 

Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Carroll County Delegation
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: Passed Senate. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 7
 
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: To Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs: Reported unfavorably on April 11 
 
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: Passed Senate. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 7
 
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: Passed Senate. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11
 
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: Passed Senate. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11
 
Introduced: 02/08/2016
Sponsor: House Environment and Transportation Committee
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Clarifies the uses of the Fisheries Research and Development Fund; alters the standards, procedures, and requirements governing scientific collection permits for fisheries; clarifies the minimum publication frequency of specified public notices for specified regulations; authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to issue specified annual complimentary fishing licenses to specified individuals; establishes specified maximums for the number of specified outstanding complimentary fishing licenses.
Status: Signed by Governor (Chapter No. 117) on April 12
 
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: To Conference Committee on April 11
 
Introduced: 02/12/2016
Sponsor: House Environment and Transportation Committee
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding; General  
Summary: Clarifies the authorized uses of the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund; repeals specified requirements that the Department of Natural Resources use specified funds from specified hunting license sales for specified purposes; requires a person who harvests a game bird or mammal to report the harvest in accordance with specified regulations; requires a person who possesses a game bird or mammal killed by means other than hunting to report the possession in accordance with specified regulations.
Status: Passed House. To Senate. To Senate Committee on Rules on April 11
 
Introduced: 02/08/2016
Sponsor: Representative Barbara Frush
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science to conduct a specified study related to the public oyster fishery; requires the Center to report to the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, the Oyster Advisory Commission, and the General Assembly on or before October 1, 2017; prohibits the Department from taking specified actions until after the Center has made its report.
Status: Passed House. To Senate. To Senate Committee on Rules on April 11
 
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Adelaide Eckardt, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Conservation Tax Incentive   
Summary: Alters specified 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 State Environmental Trust, the State Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, or the Department of Natural Resources under specified circumstances; requires the Comptroller to adopt specified regulations.
Status: To Senate concurred in House amendments. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 9  
 
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: Passed House. Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11
 
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bryan Simonaire, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges   
Summary: Authorizes 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: To Conference Committee on April 11

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: Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11  
 
Introduced: 01/29/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Waugh, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
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: Eligible for Governor's desk on April 9
 
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: Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11
 
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: To Conference Committee on April 11
 
Introduced: 04/11/2016
Sponsor: Senator Roger Manno
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science to conduct a specified study related to the public oyster fishery; requires the Center to report to the Governor, the Department of Natural Resources, the Oyster Advisory Commission, and the General Assembly on or before a certain date.
Status: Eligible for Governor's desk on April 11
 
Introduced: 04/06/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Issue Brief: General    
Summary: Relates to the conservation of striped bass.
Status: To Joint Committee on Rules on April 7
 
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative Guy Comtois
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a pistol or revolver is valid; allows a person to carry a loaded, concealed pistol or revolver without a license provided such person is not otherwise prohibited by law; repeals the requirements to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.
Status: From Senate Committee on Judiciary: Ought to pass on April 13 
 
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: Enrolled Bill Amendment on April 11
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Watters, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes the coastal marine natural resources and environment commission; 16-2736 08/09.
Status: From House Committee on Resources. Recreation and Development: Ought to pass with amendment on April 7
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Sam Cataldo
Issue Brief: Guns   
Summary: Amends the requirement that a person be suitable to be issued a concealed carry permit; 16-2746 04/10.
Status: Public hearing scheduled for April 19      
 
Introduced: 04/27/2015
Sponsor: Assembly Member Carrie Woerner 
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to the illegal taking of deer.
Status: From Assembly Committee on Codes on April 11      
 
Introduced: 06/11/2015
Sponsor: Assembly Member David Weprin  
Issue Brief: Knife Definitions 
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; includes machetes within the definition of a deadly weapon.
Status: From Assembly Committee on Codes on April 11  
 
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: From Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on April 11
 
Introduced: 01/30/2015
Sponsor: Senator Robert Ortt
Issue Brief: Modern Restraining Animal Traps
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; authorizes the use of live restraint cable devices to take coyote and other specifies as allowed by the department in the northern zone; provides that regulations shall include live cable restraint devices consisting of at least one swivel, a relaxing lock, a deer stop, and a breakaway device; requires trappers using live cable restraint device must complete a training course in their construction and use offered by the department.
Status: Recalled from Assembly. Returned to Senate. Amended on Senate Floor on April 12
 
Introduced: 02/02/2016
Sponsor: Senator Catharine Young         
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges    
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: From Senate Committee on Finance on April 11  
 
Introduced: 02/02/2016
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: From Senate Committee on Finance on April 11  
 
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: Recalled from Assembly. Returned to Senate. Amended on Senate Floor on April 12
 
Introduced: 02/01/2016
Sponsor: Senator Patty Ritchie, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: Fresh Water Angling Access
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to selectively cutting timber and exclusion of current best management practices from regulated activities.
Status: From Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on April 11
 
Introduced: 03/02/2016
Sponsor: Senator Patty Ritchie, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; authorizes minors who are hunting to wear solid or patterned pink material which shall be visible from all directions.
Status: From Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on April 11
 
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 House Committee on Game and Fisheries on April 7  
 
Introduced: 03/10/2016
Sponsor: Senator Frank Lombardo  
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Would legalize the taking of wild migratory birds by crossbow. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: Scheduled for hearing and/ or consideration on April 13    
 
Introduced: 03/23/2016
Sponsor: Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne      
Issue Brief: License (General)
Summary: Facilitates the issuance of hunting licenses by Internet application; takes effect upon passage.
Status: Scheduled for hearing and/ or consideration on April 13     


SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Matt Caldwell, Member, Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Relates to state lands; relates to acquisition and administration, vesting of title, appraisals and costs, appraisal reports, survey standards, property purchases, agency contracts, eminent domain and conservation easements, condemnation authority, alternatives to fee simple acquisition, land leases and fees, land databases, non-conservation land use and management plans, wildlife conservation, sale of surplus lands, affordable housing, riparian owners, and conservation and recreation land use and planning.
Status: Signed by Governor on April 14  

Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Representative Wilson Stone
Issue Brief: Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary: Makes any person who knowingly owns, possesses, keeps, breeds, trains, sells, or otherwise transfers a dog for the purpose of that dog or its offspring being used to fight for pleasure or profit, guilty of cruelty to animals in the first degree, a Class D felony; exempts the activities of animals engaged in guarding livestock.
Status: Signed by Governor (Act No. 64) on April 8

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: Signed by Governor on April 14 
 
Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Representative Bill Hixon, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to terms and their definitions contained in the South Carolina marine resources act of 2000; provides a definition for the term Southern Cobia management zone; relates to certain federal fishing regulations; provides that these regulations do not apply to Cobia located in the Southern Cobia management zone.
Status: Recalled from Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Fisheries on April 13 

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 or a person with permanent residence; relates to provisions prohibiting the sale of assault firearms to noncitizens.
Status: Signed by Governor (Acts of Assembly. Chapter No. 697) on April 4 


MIDWESTERN STATES

 
Introduced: 04/13/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Budget
Issue Brief: Budget Bills  
Summary: Provides for the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission appropriation for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
Status: Introduced. To Joint Committee on Budget on April 13   
Introduced: 01/29/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brandon Phelps, Co-Chair, Illinois Sportsmen's Caucus; Vice President, NASC Executive Council
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; removes a prohibition on the use of a silencer or other device to muffle or mute the sound of the explosion or report resulting from the firing of any gun; provides that no person shall, carry, possess, transport or use a silencer, suppressor or other device to muffle or mute the sound of the explosion or report resulting from the firing of any gun for the taking of game, unless such silencer, suppressor, or device is in compliance with the National Firearms Act; any game animal.
Status: Re-referred to House Committee on Rules on April 8
 
Introduced: 01/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative David Reis, Member, Illinois Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: License (General) - Conceal Carry While Hunting
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; provides that a person with a valid concealed carry license issued under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, or an off-duty law enforcement official or officer, may carry a handgun on or about his or her person while hunting.
Status: Re-referred to House Committee on Rules on April 8
 
Introduced: 01/28/2016
Sponsor: Representative John Cavaletto, Member, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; changes the name of the fee from Public Hunting Grounds for Pheasants to Public Hunting Grounds for Game Birds; provides that the Department of Natural Resources may permit hunters to take bobwhite quail, chukar partridge, and gray partridge on public hunting grounds; authorizes the Department to set the hunting season for game birds by administrative rule.
Status: In House. Read third time. Passed House. To Senate on April 12
 
Introduced: 02/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Charlie Meier, Member, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; provides that the limits on the number and size of fish a person may take in a day do not apply to a person fishing in waters wholly within his or her private property.
Status: To Senate Committee on Assignments on April 12
 
Introduced: 01/28/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dave Luechtefeld, Co-Chair, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus  
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; adds catfish to the list of aquatic life that may be taken by pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow or bow and arrow device, including a sling shot bow, spear, or gig; provides that specified fish shall not be sold or bartered unless authorized by the Department of Natural Resources; provides that the daily take, harvest limits, or additional species are subject to and set forth in administrative rule.
Status: To House Committee on Rules on April 12
 
Introduced: 02/03/2016
Sponsor: Senator Neil Anderson
Issue Brief: Hunter Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; provides that a resident youth 18 and under may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a Youth Trapping License, which extends limited trapping privileges; provides that the Youth Trapping License shall be renewable and expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance; provides that possession of a Youth Trapping License shall serve in lieu of a valid trapping license, but does not exempt the licensee from compliance with the requirements of the Code.
Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate. To House on April 12
 
Introduced: 05/04/2015
Sponsor: Senate Ways and Means Committee
Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax
Summary: Relates to state sales and use taxes and to an amendment to the Iowa Constitution ratified on November 2, 2010, which created a natural resources and outdoor recreation trust fund and dedicated a portion of state revenues to the fund for the purposes of protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in the state including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat, and conserving agricultural soils in the state; provides that the fund is codified pursuant to the amendment, the amount credited.
Status: In Senate Committee on Ways and Means on April 13

Introduced: 04/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Clay Schexnayder, Co-Chair, Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Fishing Tournaments
Summary: Commends Alex Heintze and Justin Watts for capturing the 2015 Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by TNT Fireworks.
Status: Introduced. Passed House on April 11

Introduced: 04/12/2016
Sponsor: Representative Jerome Zeringue        
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Urges continued support for the efforts in the Mississippi River Basin to achieve the goals of the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan.
Status: Introduced on April 12
Introduced: 03/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Jay Luneau  
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Relates to parish game and fish preserves; authorizes two or more parish governing authorities to establish a game and fish preserve when the preserve is located in multiple adjoining parishes; provides for terms, conditions, requirements, and procedures; provides for related matters.
Status: To House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs on April 11
 
Introduced: 03/17/2016
Sponsor: Representative Ron Ecklund      
Issue Brief: License (General)
Summary: Relates to natural resources; authorizes lifetime game and fish license information to be placed on a driver's license or Minnesota identification card.
Status: Re-referred to House Committee on Ways and Means on April 7    
Introduced: 04/06/201
Sponsor: Representative Paul Rosenthal       
Issue Brief: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/ Animal Right Groups
Summary: Relates to game and fish; prohibits open season for taking wolves.
Status: Introduced.To Senate Committee on Mining and Outdoor Recreation on April 6    

Introduced: 04/11/2016
Sponsor: Representative Peter Fischer       
Issue Brief: Modern Restraining Animals Traps; Enforcement
Summary: Relates to game and fish; modifies requirements for certain traps; requires certain permission for traps and snares set; requires reporting; requires license forfeiture for certain violations; provides criminal penalties.
Status: Introduced. To Senate Committee on Mining and Outdoor Recreation on April 6    
Introduced: 02/20/2016
Sponsor: Tom Saxhaug, Co-Chair, Minnesota Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: License (General)
Summary: Relates to game and fish; requires online applications for hunting and fishing licenses to provide for organ donation; requires a report.
Status: Re-referred to Senate Committee on Finance on April 11
Introduced: 03/24/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bruce Anderson  
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges   
Summary: Relates to game and fish; provides game and fish resident licenses for nonresident National Guard members.
Status: Re-referred to Senate Committee on Finance on April 11
 
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kathie Conway, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Enforcement; General  
Summary: Requires boat title and registration fees collected annually in excess of one million dollars to be deposited in the water patrol division fund.
Status: Passed House (138-7). To Senate on April 11 
    
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Representative John Davis, Member, Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   
Issue Brief: General    
Summary: Relates to natural resources; changes provisions in relation to grants for certain vegetation management programs; creates the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force; provides powers and duties; requires an annual report; provides for the issuance of permits to control vegetation obscuring advertising signage along highways.
Status: To Governor on April 12  
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator John McCollister, Member, Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus    
Issue Brief: Conservation Funding; General License    
Summary: Changes Game and Parks Commission fee and permit provisions.
Status: To Governor on April 12
Introduced: 04/22/2015
Sponsor: Representative Doug Green, Member, Ohio Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus   
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges  
Summary: Allows an individual on active military duty, while on leave or furlough to hunt deer or wild turkey without procuring a deer or wild turkey permit.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules and Reference on April 12
 
Introduced: 03/01/2016
Sponsor: Representative Doug Green, Member, Ohio Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General 
Summary: Requires persons authorized under existing law to possess gill nets for specified purposes to obtain annual licenses and serial numbered tags for the gill nets; authorizes a holder of an aquaculture permit to possess and use a gill net in accordance with such a license and tag; specifies a criminal penalty applicable to a person who fails to properly possess a gill net; makes other changes governing the possession of nets, traps, or other devices for catching fish under the Hunting and Fishing Law.
Status: To House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 13 
 
Introduced: 03/10/2016
Sponsor: Senator Troy Balderson, Member, Ohio Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus       
Issue Brief: General; Enforcement
Summary: Revises specified laws relating to natural resources.
Status: To Senate Committee on Government Oversight and Reforms on April 12


WESTERN STATES 


Introduced: 01/29/2016
Sponsor: Senate Rules Committee
Issue Brief: Enforcement 
Summary: Relates to sport fishing, hunting, or trapping licenses, tags, or permits; relates to penalties for certain sport fishing, hunting, and trapping license violations; relates to restrictions on the issuance of sport fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses; creates violations and amending fines and restitution for certain fish and game offenses; relates to commercial fishing violations.
Status: From Senate Committee on Judiciary: Do pass with substitute; to Senate Committee on Rules on April 7
 
Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kelly Townsend, Member, Arizona Legislators for Wildlife
Issue Brief: Enforcement; General; Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups;
Summary: Relates to wild horses; relates to management; relates to prohibition; relates to Salt River wild horse herd; states that a person who intentionally releases a domesticated horse into the wild is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
Status: Passed Senate (27-2). To House for concurrence on April 11 

Introduced: 01/14/2016
Sponsor: Assembly Member David Chiu
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors; Modern Sporting Rifles
Summary: Classifies a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept no more than 10 rounds as an assault weapon. Requires a person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon that does not have a fixed magazine, including those weapons with an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with the use of a tool, and who, on or after a specified date, possesses that firearm, to register the firearm by a specified date.
Status: In Assembly Committee on Appropriations: To Suspense File on April 13  

Introduced: 02/03/2016
Sponsor: Assembly Member Jay Obernolte 
Issue Brief: Range Protection
Summary: Excludes from the definition of the term disposal the onsite movement of soil at an active outdoor sport shooting range if this movement is done to facilitate the removal and recycling of spent ammunition materials existing on the site as a result of the normal use of the shooting range, the activities at the range are consistent with a specified manual, and the residual soil is replaced within the area from which was originally removed.
Status: From Assembly Committee on Appropriations: Do pass. To Consent Calendar on April 13 

Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Issue Brief: General     
Summary: Enacts the State Remote Piloted Aircraft Act. Establishes conditions for operating remote piloted aircraft, including the procurement of liability insurance. Authorizes the adoption of rules and regulations governing the operation of such aircraft, and rules for minimum standards to assist political subdivisions and their law enforcement agencies execute the Act. Provides the procedure for aggrieved individuals to obtain relief. Makes violations of the Act subject to criminal penalties.
Status: In Senate. Read second time and amended. R-referred to Committee on Public Safety on April 7
 
Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Senator Ted Gaines, Member, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus
Issue Brief: Outdoor Gear Sales Tax Holiday; Outdoor Sporting Tax Holiday
Summary: Exempts from the sales and use taxes the gross receipts from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies purchased by an individual during a specified time period during a calendar year.
Status: Re-referred to Senate Committee on Governance and Finance on April 7
 
Introduced: 01/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Kerry Donovan, Co-Chair, Colorado Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General  
Summary: Concerns Wearing fluorescent pink garments to hunt big game.
Status: Signed by Governor. Session Law Chaptered (Chapter No. 75) on April 12

Introduced: 01/27/2016
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: In House. House disagreed to Senate amendments on April 14 
 
Introduced: 01/26/2016
Sponsor: Representative James Tokioka
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; recognizes that pig, goats, sheep, and deer are now recognized as game mammal and game bird resources and should be included among the game management resources; urges State Departments to develop and update their rules and policies to integrate the local hunting and fishing industries into any food security or sustainability strategies.
Status: In House. Read third time. Passed House to April 7
 
Introduced: 01/26/2016
Sponsor: Representative James Tokioka
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; urges state department to develop and update their rules and policies to integrate the local hunting and fishing industries into food security or sustainability strategies they employ and to preserve, protect, and promote these industries and local cultural practices.
Status: In Committee: Public Hearing scheduled on April 12 
 
Introduced: 01/20/2016
Sponsor: Senator Mike Gabbard    
Issue Brief: Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact    
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into the interstate wildlife violator compact or similar agreement for mutual assistance in the enforcement of wildlife laws.
Status: In Senate. Senate disagreed to House amendments on April 14 
        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


Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube View on Instagram