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.

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.

Due to the high volume of legislation, Tracking the Capitols only includes bills that have had recent status updates. With questions about specific bills, please contact your 
Updates for the week of 
December 11, 2017
NORTHEAST
NORTHEASTERN STATES

Introduced: 12/11/17
Sponsor: Delegate Johnny Mautz, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Game Meat Donation Programs
Summary:  Relates to venison donations; relates to Feed the Hungry Organization.
Status: To House Committee on Ways and Means on December 11

Introduced: 12/06/17
Sponsor: Representative Jonathan F. Manley
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary:  Requires a portion of rental fees for canoes, kayaks, and personal watercraft to be deposited in the fish and game search and rescue fund.
Status: Filed as LSR 23287 on December 6
 
Introduced: 12/07/17
Sponsor: Assembly Member Valerie Vainieri Huttle
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Enacts Tonka's Law; changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around certain buildings; requires property owner to provide notice to adjacent properties of any hunting activity.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on December 7

Introduced: 11/30/17
Sponsor: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Concerns the Tonka's Law; changes perimeter for bow and arrow hunting around certain buildings; requires property owner to provide notice to adjacent properties of any hunting activity.
Status: Transferred to Senate Committee on Economic Growth on December 7

Introduced: 11/30/2017
Sponsor: Senator Raymond J. Lesniak
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Changes membership of the Fish and Game Council.  
Status: To Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on November 30

Introduced: 05/09/17
Sponsor: Senator David J. Valesky, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a Preferred Management Tool
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; requires the department of environmental conservation to report on deer management techniques in urban and suburban areas.
Status: To Governor on December 6

Introduced: 12/01/17
Sponsor: Senator William J. Larkin
Issue Brief: Licenses (General)
Summary:  Relates to allowing donate life registration when applying for or renewing a hunting, fishing or trapping license.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on December 1

Introduced: 02/07/2017
Sponsor: Representative Harold A. English, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary:  Relates to hunting and furtaking; provides for killing game or wildlife by mistake; relates to hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for period of revocation.   
Status: In Senate. Read first time on December 13

Introduced: 03/01/17
Sponsor: Representative Dan Moul, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:  Amends the act entitled "An act encouraging landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing certain acts," provides for liability for landowners to recreational users; provides for attorney fees and court costs.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy on December 8


SOUTHEAST
SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced:  11/29/17
Sponsor:  Representative Ben Albritton
Issue Brief:  General
Summary:  Relates to the Appropriations Project titled Removing the Barriers Initiative Stirring Waters, Aquatic Services; provides an appropriation.
Status: To House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee on December 5. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations on December 5

Introduced:  11/29/17
Sponsor: Representative Thad Altman, member Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  General, Budget
Summary:  Relates to the Appropriations Project titled Brevard County Indian River Lagoon Living Shoreline/Oyster Bars; provides an appropriation.
Status: To House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on December 5. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations on December 5

Introduced:  12/01/17
Sponsor: Representative Holly Raschein, member Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  General, Budget
Summary:  Relates to the Appropriations Project titled Mote Marine Laboratory Coral Reef Restoration; provides an appropriation.
Status: To House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on December 5. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations on December 5

Introduced:  11/13/17
Sponsor:  Representative Larry Lee
Issue Brief:  General, Budget
Summary:  Relates to the Saint Lucie River Watershed Pollutant Control Program; specifies that county ordinances regulating the transportation, composting, or land application of sewage within the Saint Lucie River watershed are not duplicate regulations.
Status: To House Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee on November 27. Referred to House Agriculture and Property Rights Subcommittee on November 27. Referred to House Committee on Government Accountability on November 27
 
Introduced:  11/20/17
Sponsor: Representative Jay Trumbell, member Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  General, Budget
Summary:  Relates to the Appropriations Project titled Bay County Artificial Reef Association - 2018 Reef Projects; provides an appropriation.
Status: To House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on November 29. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations on November 29
 
Introduced:  12/04/17
Sponsor:  Delegate R. Lee Ware
Issue Brief:  Conservation Tax Incentives
Summary:  Relates to battlefield property; relates to termination of easement upon transfer to United States; directs the Board of Historic Resources (the Board) to require that any easement granted to the Board on a battlefield property include provisions for the termination of the easement if the landowner transfers the property to the United States for incorporation into a national battlefield park.
Status: Prefiled on December 4

Introduced:  12/06/17
Sponsor:  Delegate David Yancey
Issue Brief:  Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:  Relates to dog boarding establishments; relates to group play requirements; relates to notice; relates to penalties; requires an employee of a dog boarding establishment to be present at all times that a dog is able to have physical contact with another dog; limits the number of dogs that may have physical contact at any given time based on certain weight classifications; failure to adequately supervise dogs in group play is established as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Status: Prefiled on December 6
 
Introduced:  12/11/17
Sponsor:  Delegate John Bell
Issue Brief:  Guns
Summary:  Relates to concealed handgun permits; relates to demonstration of competence; removes the option for concealed handgun permit applicants to demonstrate competence with a handgun by completing an electronic, video, or online course conducted by a state certified or NRA certified firearms instructor; does not affect any in person means of satisfying the requirement to demonstrate competence with a handgun under current law.
Status: Prefiled on December 11


MIDWEST MIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 12/04/17
Sponsor: Department of Natural Resources
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to conservation and recreation policies natural resources department.
Status: Prefiled on December 4
 
Introduced: 4/26/17
Sponsor : Representative Curt VanderWall, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Establishes nonresident 3-day small game license.
Status: In Senate. Second reading on December 7
 
Introduced: 9/14/17
Sponsor : Representative Gary Howell, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Allows mentored youth hunting license individual to purchase additional licenses.
Status: In Senate. Second reading on December 7
 
Introduced: 9/26/17
Sponsor : Representative Daire Rendon, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Provides for foresters registration; relates to preparing management plans for tax exempt qualified forest property.
Status: In House. Second reading on December 13
 
Introduced: 9/26/17
Sponsor : Representative Daire Rendon, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Revises provisions relating to forester registration program citations.
Status: In House. Second reading on December 13
 
Introduced: 12/05/17
Sponsor : Representative Triston Cole, Co-Chair, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Prohibits issuance of permit to sterilize game animals.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources on December 5
 
Introduced: 12/1/17
Sponsor: Representative Jered Taylor, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Feral Swine
Summary: Allows for the slaughter and processing of feral hogs for human consumption at facilities inspected by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Status: Prefiled on December 1
 
Introduced: 12/1/17
Sponsor: Senator Bill Eigel
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to the establishment of a deer season holiday.
Status: Prefiled on December 1
 
Introduced: 12/1/17
Sponsor: Representative Brian Munzlinger, Member, Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Conservation Sales Tax
Summary: Amends the Constitution to require that the sales tax dedicated to conservation purposes be resubmitted to the voters for approval every 10 years.
Status: Prefiled on December 1
 
Introduced: 8/02/17
Sponsor : Representative Nick Milroy and Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Terminally Ill Youth Hunting Opportunities
Summary: Relates to hunting approvals issued to certain terminally ill individuals.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12

Introduced: 8/07/17
Sponsor : Representative James Edming, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief Modern Restraining Animal Traps
Summary: Relates to the maximum height of pole traps.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12
 
Introduced: 10/24/17
Sponsor : Representative Nick Milroy and Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to transfer of wild turkey hunting license and tag.
Status: In Assembly. Amendment No. 1 offered on December 4
 
Introduced: 11/09/17
Sponsor : Representative Joel Kleefisch and Representative Nick Milroy, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to establishing an open season for hunting deer with muzzle-loading firearms within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Status:  Public hearing held on December 6
 
Introduced: 11/20/17
Sponsor Sportsmen's Caucus Representative Nick Milroy and Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative 
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Relates to voluntary contributions to pay for hunting and fishing approvals for disabled veterans; makes an appropriation.
Status: Public hearing held on December 6
 
Introduced: 12/04/17
Sponsor : Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting with Dogs
Summary: Relates to required tags for a dog hunting bear or wolf.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on December 4
 
Introduced: 12/05/17
Sponsor : Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to enforcement of federal and state laws relating to the management of the wolf population and to the killing of wolves and expenditure of funds for wolf management purposes.
Status:  To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on December 5
 
Introduced: 8/03/17
Sponsor : Senator Terry Moulton and Senator Mark Miller, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Terminally Ill Youth Hunting Opportunities
Summary: Relates to hunting approvals issued to certain terminally ill individuals.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12
 
Introduced: 8/03/17
Sponsor : Senator Jerry Petrowski
Issue Brief Modern Restraining Animal Traps
Summary: Relates to the maximum height of pole traps.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12
 
Introduced: 11/06/17
Sponsor :Senator Terry Moulton and Senator Mark Miller, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to establishing an open season for hunting deer with muzzle-loading firearms within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12

Introduced: 11/06/17
Sponsor : Senator Terry Moulton
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Relates to youth and trapping; creates a mentored trapping license; creates restrictions on taking or appropriating a trap or its contents; creates requirements for tagging traps.
Status: Available for scheduling in Senate on December 12
 
Introduced: 11/30/17
Sponsor : Senator Thomas Tiffany, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Relates to enforcement of federal and state laws relating to the management of the wolf population and to the killing of wolves and expenditure of funds for wolf management purposes.
Status:  To Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry on November 30
 
Introduced: 12/07/17
Sponsor : Senator Patrick Testin, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting with Dogs
Summary: Relates to required tags for a dog hunting bear or wolf.
Status: To Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry on December 7


WESTWESTERN STATES

There are currently no updates.

        SCI SCI 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 visit: 
www.congressionalsportsmen.org. 

For additional information on legislation included in this report please contact the appropriate representative: 
 
Senior Director, Northeastern States Brent Miller, 
at 202-543-6850 x13, or bmiller@congressionalsportsmen.org

Director, Southeastern States Bee Frederick, 
at 202-590-0475, or bfrederick@congressionalsportsmen.org

Senior Director, Midwestern States Chris Horton,
at 501-865-1475, or chorton@congressionalsportsmen.org

Senior Director, Western States Andy Treharne, 
at 303-789-7589, or atreharne@congressionalsportsmen.org


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