Introduced: 03/03/2016
Sponsor: Representative Gerald Brady
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Land Protection Act; removes the requirement for the use of state resource area maps in the county's land use planning; requires landowner permission for an individual acting on behalf of the Council or State agencies to enter onto certain property; provides limitations on the use of information and data collected when related to a negotiation between a landowner and the Council which does not result in the permanent protection of land.
Status: From House Committee on Policy Analysis and Government Accountability: Reported without recommendation June 22
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: Signed by Governor on June 22
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: House Amendment No. HA 1 placed with bill on June 21
Introduced: 06/02/2016
Sponsor: Representative Mulrooney, Member, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Generates revenues needed for statewide wildlife conservation and for public access facilities on and the management and maintenance of public wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife ( "Division" ) by increasing fees for existing hunting and trapping licenses and by establishing a conservation access pass to be purchased by non-hunters for motor vehicles accessing these public lands. A conservation access pass would not be required to access certain such public lands to include
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Control on June 15
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative John Burt, Member, New Hampshire Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Firearm Suppressors
Summary: Repeals provisions prohibiting the use of silencing devices for taking wildlife.
Status: Signed by Governor Maggie Hassan, Member, Governors Sportsmen's Caucus on June 10
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator David Watters, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires the Fish and Game Department to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors connecting wildlife habitats in the state and to make recommendations to the legislature for changes to laws.
Status: Signed by Governor Maggie Hassan, Member, Governors Sportsmen's Caucus on June 10
Introduced: 01/06/2016
Sponsor: Senator Dan Feltes
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to the feeding of wild deer; prohibits the placing of food for consumption by wild deer that would be detrimental to the health of the deer population or a threat to public safety, in accordance with rules adopted by the executive director of fish and game; requires the fish and game department to provide informational materials to businesses.
Status: Signed by Governor on June 21
Introduced: 01/27/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting with Dogs
Summary: Authorizes use of tracking dog to search for and recover wild deer during prescribed hunting season.
Status: From Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources as amended on June 20
Introduced: 02/08/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo
Issue Brief: Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Enters the state in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Status: Assembly Voting Session on June 27
Introduced: 06/20/2016
Sponsor: Assemblywoman Joann Downey
Issue Brief: Microstamping
Summary: Requires newly manufactured handguns to be micro-stamped; establishes handgun database.
Status: Introduced. To Assembly Committee on Law and Public Safety on June 20
Introduced: 04/01/2015
Sponsor: Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr.
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a preferred Management Tool
Summary: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the time period for the taking of deer in the county of Suffolk from December thirty-first until March thirty-first.
Status: Passed Senate on June 15
Introduced: 01/27/2015
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Griffo, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles
Summary: Amends the Vehicle & Traffic Law; establishes a non-trail snowmobile registration for snowmobiles which shall be used solely for the purpose of gaining access to hunting, fishing and trapping areas.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on June 17
Introduced: 02/23/2016
Sponsor: Senator Patty Ritchie, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Off Highway Vehicles
Summary: Relates to the creation of an ATV trail fund and the use of ATVs.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on June 17
Introduced: 11/30/2015
Sponsor: Representative Barry Jozwiak
Issue Brief: Hunting with Dogs
Summary: Amends the Game Statutes, in hunting and furtaking; provides for dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game; provides that shall be unlawful to make use of a leashed blood-tracking dog to track a white-tailed deer, bear or elk in an attempt to recover an animal which has been legally killed or wounded during any open season for such animals.
Status: In Senate on Third Consideration on June 22
Introduced: 03/18/2016
Sponsor: Senator Pat Stefano
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Relates to game; relates to Pennsylvania Game Commission; provides for powers and duties of commission and for accountability; relates to hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for license costs and fees; makes an editorial change.
Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate. To House on June 22
Introduced: 03/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator John Eichelberger, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; provides for power to set fees by regulation; provides for collection fee for uncollectible checks; 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; provides for net permits.
Status: In Senate. Read third time. Passed Senate. To House on June 22
Introduced: 03/23/2016
Sponsor: Senator Cynthia Armour Coyne
Issue Brief: Licenses (General)
Summary: Facilitates the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses by Internet application; relates to a form either printed or displayed electronically on a mobile device, so long as the certificate provides all of the information requested in the data fields identified by the department.
Status: To Governor on June 21
Introduced: 03/26/2015
Sponsor: Representative Bob Steinberg, Member, North Carolina Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Range Protection
Summary: Allows Wildlife Resources Commission shooting ranges in Northampton County.
Status: In House. Received to concur in Senate committee substitute on June 23
Introduced: 05/25/2016
Sponsor: Representative George Cleveland, Member, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Disapproves the rules adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Status: Re-referred to House Committee on Appropriations, Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources on June 16
Introduced: 04/28/2016
Sponsor: Senator Brent Jackson, Member, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Management Authority over Captive Cervids; Feral Hogs
Summary: Provides further regulatory relief to the agricultural community; relates to embargo of bedding; establishes the Agricultural Emergency Response Act which authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to assist agricultural operations and landowners in the preparedness for and recovery from agricultural emergencies; relates to aerial management of feral swine; establishes the Animal Shelter Support Fund; provides exemptions for forest management plans.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture on June 22
Introduced: 01/23/2016
Sponsor: Representative Chris Jones
Issue Brief: Freshwater Angling Access, Budget Bills
Summary: Provides for appropriations of the budget submitted by the Governor of Virginia in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2-1509, Code of Virginia; provides a portion of revenues for the two years that end respectively on the thirtieth day of June, 2017, and the thirtieth day of June, 2018.
Status: Acts of Assembly on May 26. Chapter No. 780
Introduced: 06/11/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Cole
Issue Brief: Budget Bills
Summary: Concerns the budget Bill.
Status: Line item vetoed by Governor on June 17
Introduced: 06/14/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Cole
Issue Brief: Management Authority over Captive Cervids
Summary: Authorizes miscellaneous agencies and boards to promulgate legislative rules.
Status: Signed by Governor on June 17
