Introduced:
01/25/2017
Sponsor:
Representative K.L. Brown
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups; Substandard Kennels
Summary:
Relates to dog or cat breeders; establishes the Alabama Dog and Cat Breeders Commission; gives the commission the authority to license dog and cat breeders; provides exemptions of certain animals and breeders; authorizes the commission, by rule, to set certain standards for breeding and the minimum standard of care for certain animals, perform inspections and investigations, set licensing requirements and fees, require certain notifications, perform criminal background checks.
Status:
Prefiled on January 25
Introduced:
01/30/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Tom Whatley
Issue Brief:
College Student Hunting/Angling Licenses
Summary:
Relates to hunting and fishing; authorizes a nonresident student at an institution of higher education in this state to purchase resident hunting or fishing licenses under certain conditions.
Status:
Prefiled on January 30
Introduced:
1/31/2017
Sponsor: Representative Halsley Beshears, Florida Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Caucus Chair
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to nonnative animals; directs Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), in consultation with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to establish pilot program for eradication of specific species; requires Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to enter into specified contracts and to submit report
Summary:
Prefiled on January 31
Introduced:
01/26/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Bob Bradley
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to water resources; provides an exception to the requirement that bonds issued for acquisition and improvement of land, water areas, and related property interests and resources be deposited into the State Forever Trust Fund and distributed in a specified manner; requires the South State Water Management District to seek proposals from Willing Sellers of property within the Everglades Agricultural Area for land that is suitable for the reservoir project.
Status:
In Senate. On Committee agenda 02/07/2017 on January 30
Introduced:
1/30/2017
Sponsor: Representative Jason Shaw, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to seasons and bag limits, promulgation of rules and regulations by the board, possession of more than bag limit, and reporting number of deer killed; changes certain provisions relating to open seasons for the hunting of deer; provides for related matters; provides for an effective date; repeals conflicting laws.
Status:
In House: Read second time on February 1
Introduced:
01/24/2017
Sponsor: Senator Bill Heath, Vice President, National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Relates to hunting, trapping, and fishing license, permit, tag, and stamp fees, so as to freeze the cost of certain hunting licenses that are renewed before expiration; provides for prospective application; provides for related matters; repeals conflicting laws.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Natural Resource and Environment on January 25
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative Randy Boyd, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Requires the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to provide public notice to counties of proposed regulatory changes affecting hunting, fishing and wildlife gaming in certain counties in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county or state; specifies the frequency and format of the publication of such notice; authorizes the county board of supervisors to request a public meeting with the commission or its designated representatives.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative Randy Boyd
, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Prohibits the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks from issuing citations penalizing any licensed hunter engaged in hunting for deer or hogs with dogs on any state or county wildlife management area when such hunter enters the property of another to retrieve a runaway dog; provides that the hunter shall be civilly liable for any damages caused by a trespassing dog.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Ashley Henley
Issue Brief:
Hunter Education
Summary:
Provides an exemption to any resident who is an active duty, retired or honorably discharged member of the armed forces, including the reserves and National Guard, from the hunter education course requirements as a condition of receiving any license for which such course is required; provides that the exempted resident shall have in his possession and on his person any proof as may be required by the commission.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative Randy Boyd
, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Authorizes the state Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to designate certain sections within selected wildlife management areas as zones for hunting deer with dogs during any regulated deer season; authorizes the commission to designate certain sections within selected wildlife management areas as zones for hunting wild hogs with dogs; requires hunters when hunting wild hogs during any season established by the commission for hunting deer on wildlife management areas, to meet certain requirements.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Brad Touchstone
Issue Brief:
Hunting, Angling & Nature Appreciation in Schools; Hunter Education
Summary:
Includes hunter safety education as part of the public school curriculum; limits the course attendance to students in the sixth through twelfth grades; requires the course to be taught by a person certified by the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; provides that the determination of whether to offer hunter safety education in a school shall be in the discretion of the school district superintendents.
Status:
Title Deemed Sufficient by House Committee: Do Pass Recommended Substitute on January 26
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Representative Manly Barton, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Extends the repealer on the provision of law relating to the hunting, trapping and taking of nuisance animals from 2017 to 2021.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Representative Andy Gipson,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Extends squirrel season through the first week of March subject to a daily bag limit of three squirrels per hunter.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/09/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Jason White
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands; Modern Restraining Animal Traps; Contraception Preemption; Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Extends the date of the repealer on the statute that requires the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to regulate the hunting, trapping and taking of nuisance animals and the issuance of wild hog transportation permits.
Status: Committee substitute adopted on House floor. Passed House. To Senate on February 2
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Representative Trey Lamar,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Provides that nonresident National Guard and reserve members may obtain a resident hunting and fishing license and a fourteen-day Armed Forces license.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/17/2017
Sponsor: Representative Bryant Clark, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Caucus Chair
Issue Brief:
Off Highway Vehicles
Summary:
Requires all-terrain vehicles to obtain a certificate of number; authorizes the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to issue the certificates; provides that the certificate of number shall be placed on the all-terrain vehicles; provides a penalty for violations.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/17/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Ken Morgan
Issue Brief:
White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a preferred Management Tool
Summary:
Requires the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to develop a program for tagging white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
Status:
Title Deemed Sufficient by House Committee: Do Pass Recommended Substitute on January 26
Introduced:
01/17/2017
Sponsor: Representative Bryant Clark, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Caucus Chair
Issue Brief:
Off Highway Vehicles
Summary:
Allows all-terrain vehicles to obtain a certificate of number; requires all all-terrain vehicles used on public lands to obtain a certificate of number; authorizes the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to issue the certificates; provides that the certificate of number shall be placed on the all-terrain vehicles; provides a penalty for violations.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/18/2017
Sponsor: Representative Joey Hood,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Crossbows, General
Summary:
Allows persons exempt from having a hunting license by reason of disability to use an airbow during any open season on deer, turkey or small game.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Senator Kevin Blackwell,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Relates to deer hunting with dogs; authorizes the commission to regulate and require permits and licenses.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Senator Angela Hill,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Caucus Chair
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Authorizes residents of this state who are active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States to hunt and fish in this state without a license regardless or where they are serving on active duty; authorizes honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who are residents of this state to hunt and fish in this state without a license.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Gray Tollison
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Provides that for hunters 75 years of age or older all of the bag limit on antlered deer set by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may be any antlered deer.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Seymour
, Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Clarifies the prohibition against hunting on any street, public land, public road, public highway, levee, or railroad.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Senator Bob Dearing,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Allows mentally handicapped persons to hunt during any special youth season established by the commission on wildlife, fisheries and parks; exempts those persons from obtaining a license.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor: Senator Bob Dearing,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Off Highway Vehicles
Summary:
Clarifies that persons using all-terrain vehicles in public waterways without permission of landowner are not entitled to recover damages against such landowner for injuries.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/09/2017
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Seymour,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Feral Hogs
Summary:
Removes the size limitation on the enclosure that a wild hog may be released into for purpose of slaughter; requires the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to issue metallic tags that must be affixed to the ear of each wild hog being transported within the state.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Senator Briggs Hopson,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Licenses (general)
Summary:
Authorizes the designation on driver's licenses and identification cards for a person possessing a lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Seymour,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Requires the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to publish in certain newspapers notice of proposed rules regarding the regulation of hunting, fishing or wild game; provides the content of the notice; provides that the publication of the notice shall begin on the date that notice of the proposed adoption of the rules are filed with the Secretary of State under the Mississippi administrative procedures law.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Senator Briggs Hopson,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Authorizes honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States with service-connected disabilities who are residents of this state to hunt and fish in this state without a license.
Status:
From Senate Committee on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks: Recommended as Substituted on January 31
Introduced:
01/19/2017
Sponsor: Senator Robert Jackson,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Requires the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Transportation, to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors; files a report and recommendations.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Deborah Jeanne Dawkins
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Recommends the assessment of the economic value of the natural resources of the state; requires the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, to identify existing and needed wildlife corridors; files a report and recommendations.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Seymour,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to wildlife; revises prima facie evidence of hunting, fishing and trapping.
Status:
Died in committee on January 31
Introduced:
01/31/2017
Sponsor: Senator Cliff Hite, Member, Ohio Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Member
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Revises specified laws relating to environmental protection.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on February 1
Introduced:
01/18/2017
Sponsor:
Representative David R. Hiott, Member, South Carolina Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Terminally Ill Youth Hunting Opportunities
Summary:
Provides that the director of the Department of Natural Resources may issue special authorization for hunting and fishing to any person who is not more than twenty-one years old who has been diagnosed with a terminal or life threatening illness or injury who is sponsored by certain nonprofit charitable organizations.
Status:
Passed House. To Senate. To Senate Committee on Fish, Game, and Forestry on February 1
Introduced:
01/25/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Mike Burns
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
Relates to entry on another's lands without permission; provides that persons who enter with notice onto land without permission are guilty of a misdemeanor; requires persons with written consent to hunt, fish, or trap on lands that have notice posted prohibiting entry must carry a copy of the club membership while on the land; defines the word notice.
Status:
To House Committee on Judiciary on January 25
Introduced:
01/31/2017
Sponsor: Representative Alan Clemmons, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary:
Relates to the issuance of bear hunting tags by the Department of Natural Resources; increases the nonresident fee to obtain a bear tag; deletes the provision that provides for the random drawing of tags by bear tag applicants in game zones other than game zone 1; eliminates the application fee; relates to the hunting of bears; establishes an open season for hunting and taking bear for still gun hunts in game zone 4.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs on January 31
Introduced:
01/31/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Dale Carr
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Relates to Game and Fish Laws; alters hunting and fishing license discounts available to honorably discharged veterans.
Status:
Introduced on January 31
Introduced:
01/31/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Susan Lynn
Issue Brief:
Substandard Kennels
Summary:
Relates to Department of Commerce and Insurance; requires registration with the department to operate as a commercial dog breeder; creates inspection requirements for commercial dog breeders; creates Class A misdemeanor offense for a person to knowingly operate as a commercial dog breeder without being registered.
Status:
Introduced on January 31
Introduced:
01/30/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Doug Overbey
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military, Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Alters hunting and fishing license discounts available to honorably discharged veterans
Status:
Introduced on January 31
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate R. Lee Ware
Issue Brief:
Knife Ban Repeal
Summary:
Relates to carrying a switchblade knife; relates to exception; authorizes any person to carry a switchblade knife concealed when such knife is carried for the purpose of engaging in a lawful profession or recreational activity the performance of which is aided by the use of a switchblade knife; removes switchblade knives from the list of weapons the selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing of which is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Courts of Justice on January 31
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Bobby Orrock
Issue Brief:
Conservation Tax Incentives
Summary:
Relates to real property tax; relates to special assessment for land preservation; prohibits any locality from requiring any taxpayer who is the lessor of real property to produce the lease for the purpose of determining whether the property is eligible for special assessment for land preservation.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Finance on January 27
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Bobby Orrock
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to cats and dogs; relates to lifetime licenses; authorizes the governing body of a county or city to provide for a lifetime dog or cat license; removes the minimum annual tax for a dog or cat, sets the maximum tax for a lifetime license at $50, and limits the fee for a duplicate dog or cat tag to $1.
Status: From Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources: Reported with substitute on February 2
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Gordon Helsel
Issue Brief:
General License
Summary:
Relates to Marine Resources Commission; relates to registration as commercial fisherman; relates to family member or employee; directs the Marine Resources Commission to grant a preference for an exception to the two-year delay in the effective date of a registration as a commercial fisherman; requires the preference to benefit a license applicant who is a member of the immediate family or a documented employee of commercial fisherman who is retiring.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported favorably on February 1
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Gordon Helsel
Issue Brief:
Enforcement
Summary:
Relates to Marine Resources Commission; relates to licenses; relates to revocation; provides that when the Marine Resources Commission (the Commission) revokes fishing privileges for a violation of the tidal fisheries law, it shall only revoke the particular type of license that is applicable to the fishery in which the violation occurred; provides that under current law, the Commission is authorized to revoke all of the fishing privileges a person has been granted.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported with substitute, and Committee substitute printed on February 1
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Robert S. Bloxom
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to Marine Resources Commission; relates to advisory committees; establishes four advisory committees to make recommendations to the Marine Resources Commission on issues relating to the management of, respectively, crab, finfish, shellfish, and habitat; reorganizes two existing advisory boards that deal with commercial fishing and recreational fishing.
Status: In Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources: Failed to report on February 2
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate William J. Howell
Issue Brief:
Hunting Dogs
Summary:
Relates to dogs running at large; relates to civil penalty; prohibits dog owners from allowing dogs to run at large on the property of another after the landowner has given notice to the dog owner to keep the dog off of the property; provides for a per dog civil penalty enforced by animal control, conservation police, and other law-enforcement officers for each violation; provides that notice may be given verbally, in writing, with signs, or with blue tree markings.
Status:
From House Committee on Rules: Reported with substitute, and Committee substitute printed on January 31.
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor: Delegate James E. Edmunds, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General License
Summary:
Relates to slingbow hunting; relates to license; authorizes the use of a slingbow to hunt small and big game when a hunter is licensed to hunt with a bow and arrow.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported with amendment on February 1.
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor: Delegate James E. Edmunds, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to hunting apparel; relates to blaze pink; allows hunters to wear blaze pink instead of blaze orange hunting apparel when required during firearms deer hunting season or the special season for hunting deer with a muzzle-loading rifle.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported favorably on February 1.
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor: Delegate James E. Edmunds, Member, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General License
Summary:
Relates to hunting of big game species; relates to licenses; creates separate licenses to hunt each big game species, as defined by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, instead of one license for all big game species.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported with substitute, and Committee substitute printed on February 1.
Introduced:
01/17/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate C. Matt Farris
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to dangerous dogs; removes the requirement that a law-enforcement officer or animal control officer apply for a summons requiring a dog owner to appear before a general district court when the officer has reason to believe that the dog is dangerous; relates to cases where a dog has bitten a cat or dog; requires investigation by an officer for certain exemptions from the definition of dangerous dog to apply and removes an exemption for good cause as determined by a court.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources: Reported with amendment on February 1.
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Charles D Poindexter
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Species
Summary:
Relates to study; relates to study the current and potential impact of zebra and quagga mussels in Virginia Waters and propose strategies, campaigns, and necessary state actions to protect Virginia Waters from zebra and quagga mussel infestation; relates to report; requests the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to study the current and potential impact of zebra and quagga mussels in Virginia Waters and propose strategies, campaigns, and necessary state actions to protect Virginia Waters from zebra.
Status:
In House Committee on Rules: Tabled on January 26
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator William Stanley
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to public animal shelters; relates to dogs; relates to euthanasia; requires a public animal shelter to notify any person or releasing agency of its intent to euthanize an abandoned dog, and to wait five days before euthanizing the dog, if the person or agency has requested the adoption or transfer of the particular animal; provides that the shelter is not required to provide such notice if it has reason to believe that the dog has injured a human or the dog meets certain other specified conditions.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on February 1
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Richard H. Stuart
Issue Brief:
Knife Definitions
Summary:
Relates to furnishing certain weapons to minor; relates to exemption; exempts the transfer of a dirk, switchblade knife, or Bowie knife between family members or for the purpose of engaging in a sporting event or activity from the current prohibition against selling, bartering, giving, or furnishing such weapons to a minor.
Status:
To House Committee on Courts of Justice on January 30.
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Richard H. Stuart
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Relates to boating safety course; relates to database listing operators who have passed course; directs the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (the Department) to create a database listing the name and date of birth of every person who has at any time passed an approved boating safety course; requires a law-enforcement officer to search the database for the identity of a motorboat operator if the operator states that he has complied with the requirements for boating safety education.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on February 2
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Scott A. Surovell
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Species
Summary:
Relates to introduction of snakehead fish; relates to penalty; prohibits the introduction of snakehead fish from any location into state Waters; provides that current law only prohibits the introduction of snakehead fish from outside the Commonwealth.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Frank M. Ruff
Issue Brief:
Guns
Summary:
Relates to muzzleloader firearms; relates to definition; incorporates the Virginia criminal law definition of a muzzleloader into the current statutory definitions of muzzleloading pistol, muzzleloading rifle, and muzzleloading shotgun located in the Game and Inland Fisheries Title.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on February 2
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor: Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Co-Chair, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Conservation Tax Incentives
Summary:
Relates to land preservation tax credit; relates to per taxpayer limitation; extends to taxable year the specified limit on the amount that a taxpayer may claim per year under the land preservation tax credit; the bill retains the specified limit for each subsequent taxable year.
Status:
From Senate Committee on Finance: Reported favorably on February 1
Introduced:
01/03/2017
Sponsor:
Senator A. Benton Chafin
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Relates to hunting license; relates to bear, deer, or turkey; relates to electronic carry; removes the requirement that a license to hunt bear, deer, or turkey be carried in paper form, allowing it to be carried by electronic or computerized means.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 27
Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Lionell Spruill
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; relates to landlord to inspect vacated dwelling unit for abandoned animals; relates to penalty; requires a landlord who knew or should have known that a dwelling unit has been vacated to inspect such dwelling unit for the presence of any abandoned animals; provides that if an abandoned animal is discovered, the landlord is required to notify an animal control officer or law enforcement of the presence and condition of the animal.
Status: Committee substitute adopted on Senate floor and engrossed by Senate as substituted on February 2
Introduced:
01/10/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Lynwood W. Lewis
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to sale of dog or cat not obtained from releasing agency or animal rescue; authorizes localities to adopt ordinances prohibiting the sale in a business of any dog or cat that was not obtained from a state releasing agency or a nonprofit animal rescue organization.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on January 30.
Introduced:
01/10/2017
Sponsor:
Senator William Stanley
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Relates to killing of dog or cat prohibited; relates to penalty; prohibits the humane killing of a dog or cat that is a companion animal unless the animal poses an immediate physical threat to a person or is in extreme distress and would suffer further as a result of a delay in seeking veterinary care; makes a violation a Class 2 misdemeanor, with any subsequent violation a Class 6 felony; exempts from the prohibition any veterinarian or other authorized person.
Status: In Committee on Finance: Passed by indefinitely on January 31
Introduced:
01/10/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Richard H. Stuart
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
Relates to landowner liability; relates to recreational access; provides that a landowner who has entered into an agreement with a public entity or nonprofit concerning the use of his land for public recreation shall be immune from liability to a member of the public arising out of the recreational use of the land.
Status:
To House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on February 2
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Mark D. Obenshain
Issue Brief:
Guns
Summary:
Relates to possession of antique firearms; relates to nonviolent felons; permits nonviolent felons to possess, transport, and carry antique firearms and black powder in a quantity not exceeding five pounds if it is intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in antique firearms.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on February 2
