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 

July 4, 2016


NORTHEASTNORTHEASTERN STATES
 

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: Eligible for Governor's desk on July 1
 
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: Eligible for Governor's desk on July 1
 
Introduced: 03/08/2016
Sponsor: Senator David McBride, Member of Delaware Legislative Sportmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Restores the authority of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (Department) to assess criminal penalties against violators of the Wetlands Act and Subaqueous Lands Act (Acts), when appropriate. The Department previously possessed this authority, but it was inadvertently repealed by the 2013 amendments to the Acts. The Department's enforcement of significant violations is limited without criminal penalties.
Status: Eligible for Governor's desk on July 1
 
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: To Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on June 30
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Raymond Lesniak
Issue Brief: Substandard Kennels
Summary: Revises the Pet Purchase Protection Act; establishes new requirements for pet dealers and pet shops.
Status: Amended on Senate floor. Passed Senate. To Assembly on June 30
 
Introduced: 03/10/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Sweeney, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus 
Issue Brief: Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Enters New Jersey in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Status: In Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on July 11
 
Introduced: 06/27/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bob Smith, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax
Summary: Revises State's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs; implements 2014 constitutional dedication of Corporate Business Tax revenues for certain environmental purposes.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chapter No. 2016-12 on June 30 


SOUTHEASTSOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 05/05/2016
Sponsor: Representative Nelson Dollar
Issue Brief: Budget Bills
Summary: Modifies the current operations and capital improvements appropriations act of 2015 and to make other changes in the budget operations of the state.
Status: To Governor on July 1
 
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 Governor on July 1


MIDWESTMIDWESTERN STATES
 

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.
Status: Referred to House Committee on Rules on June 30
 
Introduced: 02/03/2016
Sponsor: Senator Neil Anderson
Issue Brief: Terminally Ill Youth Hunting Opportunities; Hunter Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; provides that a resident youth a certain age 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 a specified date 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: To Governor on June 29
 
Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bill Cunningham  
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding; General
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; combines provisions for deer, turkey, and combination hunter licenses to certain landowners, including resident tenants certain commercial agricultural land where they will hunt and certain shareholders who wish to hunt on a corporation's, company's, or partnership's land; provides for a youth-only spring wild turkey season.
Status: To Governor on June 29


WESTWESTERN STATES 


Introduced: 03/05/2015
Sponsor: Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
Issue Brief: Hunter Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation
Summary: Amends existing law that regulates the lending of firearms. Limits the exemption of lending a firearm through an authorized dealer to include specified family members. Requires a handgun loaned to be registered to the person loaning the handgun.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 41 on July 1
 
Introduced: 01/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Isadore Hall
Issue Brief: Modern Sporting Rifle
Summary: Revises the definition of assault weapon to mean a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, or a semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of specified attributes. Exempts persons who possessed such weapons prior to a specified date from punishment. Requires persons possessing certain assault weapons prior to a specified date to register the firearm with the Department of Justice. Authorizes a related fee increase. Requires registrations to be done over the Internet with a related fee.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 48 on July 1
 
Introduced: 01/21/2016
Sponsor: Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Issue Brief: Guns (General)
Summary: Requires every person to report the theft or loss of a firearm he or she owns or possesses to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the theft or loss occurred within a specified number of days of the time he or she knew or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost, and requires every person who has made such report to notify the local law enforcement agency if the firearm is recovered. Provides for infractions and misdemeanors for violations.
Status:  Vetoed by Governor on July 1
 
Introduced: 02/18/2016
Sponsor: Senator Kevin de Leon
Issue Brief: Guns (General)
Summary: Provides procedures upon the passage of a ballot measure. Requires the Attorney General to maintain information about ammunition transactions and ammunition vendor licenses. Provides dissemination of the name of a person purchasing ammunition if the person has been in the legal system for domestic violence. Relates to provisions regarding the delivery or transfer of ammunition, ammunition sales vendors, the use of the Prohibited Armed Persons File, and the sale of ammunition to prohibited persons.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 55 on July 1
 
Introduced: 02/19/2016
Sponsor: Senator Loni Hancock
Issue Brief: Standard Capacity Magazines
Summary: Amends existing law which prohibits the sale, gift, and loan of a large-capacity magazine to make a violation an infraction with graduated fines for violations. Requires a person in lawful possession of such magazine prior to a specified date, to dispose of the magazine. Provides exceptions, including allowing licensed gunsmiths and honorable sworn peace officers to possess such magazine.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 58 on July 1

 
Hawaii H 1041
Introduced: 01/27/2015
Sponsor: Representative Richard Onishi
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to sustainable public hunting; establishes a game commission to serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor and Board of Land and Natural Resources; makes an appropriation; relates to game management; provides for procedures related to the control of game mammals, including aerial shooting activities by the department and its contractors.
Status: Signed by Governor. Act No. 210 on July 5

        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


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