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: Passed House. Eligible for Governor's desk on May 4
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 and a resident game bird conservation stamp; amends certain hunting and fishing fees for residents less than eighteen years of age; erects a pheasant stocking account and program.
Status: Enrolled Public Act No. 16-27 on May 4
Introduced: 02/24/2016
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Trophy Importation Ban
Summary: Concerns Cecil's law; prohibits the import, sale and trade of big-game hunting trophies from overseas.
Status: Died on adjournment on May 4
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: Hearing held in House Committee on Agriculture on May 4
Introduced: 04/14/2016
Sponsor: Representative Edward Osienski
Issue Brief: National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
Summary: Closes a loophole to our gun background check laws. The current loophole allows for guns to be given to a potential purchaser if the background check is delayed for 3 days or more. In some cases a gun is given to a person who should not be in possession of a firearm. This leads to law enforcement having to retrieve a gun from a person prohibited if the background check provides that a person should not have a gun.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary on May 3
Introduced: 04/28/2016
Sponsor: Representative Trey Paradee, Member, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Makes a change to the method by which DNREC issues food fishing equipment permits for hook and line. By law there are only 172 such permits available in the State. When the number of permits in use drops below 172 the DNREC is required to issue new permits pursuant to a lottery. Under current law only individuals who have completed an apprenticeship program with an active, licensed commercial fisher are eligible to participate in the lottery. This bill would make individuals who have completed the requirements.
Status: Introduced. To House Committee on Natural Resources on April 28
Introduced: 02/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Duchesne, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Wildlife Council for Public Education
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: Died on adjournment on April 29
Introduced: 03/11/2015
Sponsor: Representative Paul Frost
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Relates to instruments used for the muffling of noise from the firing of firearms.
Status: In Joint Committee on Judiciary: Extension Order Filed. Extended until June 1
Introduced: 01/06/2015
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: Passed Senate on April 28
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: From Senate Committee on Judiciary: Ought to pass with amendment on May 3
Introduced: 01/06/2015
Sponsor: Representative Suzanne Gottling
Issue Brief: Exotic Invasive Species
Summary: Prohibits the transport of exotic aquatic weeds; provides that the general court recognizes that transporting boats from one water body to another increases the risk of inadvertent transport of aquatic nuisance species; relates to penalties and the conference of certain enforcement powers; relates to the transport of aquatic plants or plant parts or exotic aquatic weeds or weed parts on the outside of boats, vehicles, and equipment, and the draining of water conveyances.
Status: Passed Senate. To House for concurrence on April 28
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: From House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Ought not to pass on May 4
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 to investigate, monitor, and propose prevention and mitigation strategies for emerging environmental threats in coastal and Great Bay waters, including the warming of waters, ocean acidification, and nutrient loading, which impact fish, shellfish, and the food chain thereof.
Status: Senate concurred in House amendments on April 28
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Watters, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to wildlife corridors; requires the fish and game department to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors connecting wildlife habitats in the State; makes recommendations to the legislature for changes to laws.
Status: From House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources: Majority reported ought to pass; Minority reported ought not to pass on April 28
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dan Feltes
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to the feeding of wild deer; 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; requires the fish and game department to distribute informational materials.
Status: From House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources: Ought to pass with amendments on April 28
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator Gary Daniels
Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles
Summary: Relates to an OHRV registration fee for persons who are members of an OHRV club; requires a report on registration alternatives for OHRV users who do not use organized trail systems; establishes an OHRV registration fee for persons who are members of an OHRV club which is reduced $30 from the increased fee paid by other registrants; requires the executive director of the fish and game department to report on registration alternatives for OHRV users who do not use organized trail systems.
Status: From House Committee on Ways and Means: Ought to pass on May 4
Introduced: 02/04/2015
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak
Issue Brief: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary: Prohibits possession, transport, import, export, processing, sale, or shipment of parts and products of certain animal species threatened with extinction; provides a violation would be crime of the third degree and is subject to specified criminal penalties and civil administrative penalties; provides a civil penalty for a person who possess wildlife without obtaining a certificate of possession.
Status: Conditional veto by Governor. Returned to Senate on May 2
Introduced: 02/04/2015
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak
Issue Brief: Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary: Prohibits possession and transport of parts and products of certain animals at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports and port facilities; provides for related criminal penalties.
Status: Conditional veto by Governor. Returned to Senate on May 2
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: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 3
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: Amended on Assembly Floor on May 4
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tom O'Mara, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Appreciation in Schools
Summary: Relates to hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.
Status: From Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 3
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: From Senate Committee on Finance on May 4 '
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: Passed Senate. To Assembly Committee on Codes on May 4
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: Passed Senate. To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 4
Introduced: 05/03/2016
Sponsor: Senator Robert Ortt
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; provides that a license to possess a pistol or revolver shall permit the licensee to carry such weapon concealed.
Status: Introduced. To Senate Committee on Codes on May 3
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: Passed Senate. To House on May 4
Introduced: 02/23/2016
Sponsor: Representative Kurt Wright
Issue Brief: Ivory Ban
Summary: Relates to the sale of ivory or rhinoceros horn.
Status: House refused to concur in Senate amendments. To Conference Committee on April 26
Introduced: 01/05/2016
Sponsor: Representative John Bartholomew
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering
Summary: Relates to adequate shelter of dogs and cats; relates to humane treatment of animals; amends requirements for the humane shelter of dogs and cats; provides definitions.
Status: Senate refused to concur in House amendments. To Conference Committee on April 29
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; relates to fish importation permits and introducing fish; provides for a uniform point system and revocation of a license; relates to unlawful equipment and vehicle forfeiture; relates to big game violations, and threatened and endangered species; prohibits taking big game out of season; requires the posting of notices prohibiting the taking of game; relates to private ponds.
Status: House concurred in Senate amendments on May 2
Introduced: 02/26/2016
Sponsor: House Natural Resources and Energy Committee
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to timber harvesting.
Status: Passed Senate. To House for concurrence on May 4
