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 

August 15, 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: Signed by Governor. Chapter number 354 on August 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 food fishing equipment permits for hook and line; provides such permits shall not exceed a specified total number under and pursuant to a related lottery; updates the permit lottery participation requirements; reduces the entry age for a commercial fishing apprenticeship with an active commercial fisher.
Status: Signed by Governor. Chapter number 348 on August 3
 
Introduced: 04/15/2015
Sponsor: Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair, Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary: Relates to the use of crossbows in hunting.
Status: Discharged from Senate Committee on Rules. To Senate Committee on Ways and Means on August 2
 
Introduced: 01/12/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bob Smith, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a preferred Management Tool; Game Meat Donation Programs
Summary: Permits certain deer control activities; prohibits deer feeding; establishes check-off donation on hunting license applications to support venison donation program.
Status: In Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on August 8
 
Introduced: 02/03/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tony Avella
Issue Brief: Knife Ban Repeal
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; includes machetes within the definition of a deadly weapon.
Status: To Governor on August 8
 
Introduced: 08/15/2016
Sponsor: Representative Tonyelle Cook-Artis
Issue Brief: Guns (General)
Summary: Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles; provides for definitions, for evidence of intent, for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for firearms not to be carried without a license and for licenses, provides for firearm eligibility license, for application for firearm eligibility license, for fee and qualification, for investigations and training course.
Status: Introduced. To House Committee on Judiciary on August 15



SOUTHEASTSOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 08/15/16
Sponsor: Representative Stephen A. McMillan
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to hunting; makes technical corrections to the time period defined for nighttime hunting; transfers the definition of nighttime for hunting purposes.
Status: From House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry: Reported favorably on August 17
 
Introduced: 08/15/16
Sponsor: Representative Randy Davis, Co-Chair, Alabama Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to coastal areas and permits for living shoreline restoration from the State Lands Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Management and for the use of source sediment by riparian property owners.
Status: Introduced. To House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on August 15

Introduced: 08/15/2016
Sponsor: Senator Tim Melson
Issue Brief: General
Summary:Relates to the issuance of annual stamps for waterfowl hunting; provides for the issuance of lifetime waterfowl stamps and to establish fees; authorizes for adjustment of the fees.
Status: Introduced. To Senate Committee on Tourism and Marketing on August 15


MIDWESTMIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 05/17/2016
Sponsor: Senator Bob Peterson
Issue Brief: Substandard Kennels 
Summary: Regulates the sales of dogs from pet stores and dog retailers; requires the Director of Agriculture to license pet stores; revises the civil penalties applicable to dog breeders.
Status: To House Committee on Rules and Reference on May 25


WESTWESTERN STATES 


Introduced: 02/04/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman Jim Wood
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to meet with individual federally recognized Indian tribes in the State to discuss elk-related issues for elk located within the territory of the individual tribe. Requires the Department to work collaboratively, and in good faith, with tribe to identify possible science-based solutions.
Status: In Senate Committee on Appropriations: Held in committee on August 11.
 
Introduced: 02/09/2016
Sponsor: Assemblyman James Gallagher, Member, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the fee required to obtain lifetime hunting and sport fishing licenses by a specified percentage for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, was honorably discharged, and is a resident of the State.
Status: In Senate Committee on Appropriations: Held in committee on August 11
 
Introduced: 02/17/2016
Sponsor: Assemblymember Chris Holden
Issue Brief: Technology and the Fair Chase Ethic
Summary: Makes it unlawful for a person to launch, land, or operate unmanned aircraft systems known as drones from or within lands, waters or airspace managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Parks and Recreation without authorization for the taking of fish or wildlife. Includes use of drones for scouting purposes or to pursue, drive or herd any bird or mammal.
Status: In Senate. Read second time. To third reading on August 15
 
Introduced: 02/24/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tom Berryhill, Member, California Outdoor Sporting Caucus
Issue Brief: Freshwater Angling Access; Licenses (General); Hunter Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation
Summary: Authorizes a charitable organization or nonprofit organization to possess fish taken under a sport fishing license in excess of a possession limit when such organizations were given the fish as donations an can provide documentation to that effect and the entities retain any tag required to be fixed to a fish in a prescribed manner. Authorizes the donor to possess fish under a license in excess of limits if the donor complies with the same requirements. Relates to junior licenses and short term licenses.
Status: In Assembly Committee on Appropriations: Held in committee on August 11
 
Introduced: 08/08/2016
Sponsor: Office of Senator Steve Hinebauch
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Revises fish, wildlife, and parks laws.
Status: Draft request received on August 8


        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 [email protected]
Northeastern States Director Brent Miller, at 202.543.6850 x 13, or email [email protected]
Southeastern States Manager Bee Frederick, at 334.593.6988, or email [email protected]
Western States Director Andy Treharne, at 303.789.7589, or email [email protected]


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