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 
October 30, 2017
NORTHEAST
NORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 10/27/2017
Sponsor: Representative Peter A. Lyford, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus 
Issue Brief: Modern Restraining Animal Traps
Summary:  Allows for trapping on Canada Lynx.  
Status: Accepted by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/06/2017
Sponsor: Representative Robert S. Duchesne          
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Renames the coast of wildlife management area as the Alan Hutchinson wildlife management area.
Status: Accepted by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/06/2017
Sponsor: Representative Paul A. Stearns               
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary:  Amends the term of suspension of a hunting license for a conviction of hunting deer over bait.
Status: Rejected by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/06/2017
Sponsor: Senator Andre Cushing, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary:  Increases safety on youth hunting day for hunting bear by allowing an accompanying adult to possess a firearm.
Status: Rejected by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/06/2017
Sponsor: Senator Scott Cyrway, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Chronic Wasting Disease
Summary:  Eliminates the prohibition on feeding or baiting deer during certain parts of the year.
Status: Rejected by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/06/2017
Sponsor: Representative Nathan J. Wadsworth
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:  Increases the number of any-deer permits distributed to senior hunters.
Status: Rejected by Legislative Council on October 27

Introduced: 10/19/2017
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Issue Brief: Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary:  Further regulates the enforcement of illegal hunting practices.
Status: To Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 19

Introduced: 02/14/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Dan Quart
Issue Brief: Knife Ban Repeal
Summary:  Amends the Penal Law; relates to the definition of a gravity knife.
Status: Vetoed by governor. Veto no. 171 of 2017 on October 23

Introduced: 01/13/2017
Sponsor: Senator Pamela Helming, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; eliminates sporting license fees for honorably discharged disabled veterans.
Status: Amended in Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs on October 20

Introduced: 10/31/2017
Sponsor: Senator Michele Brooks, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:  Amends statutes relating to game; relates to special licenses and permits; provides for permit exemptions.  
Status: To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on October 31


SOUTHEAST
SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced:  10/16/2017
Sponsor:  Representative Gayle Harrell 
Issue Brief:  Budget
Summary:  Relates to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund; provides an appropriation for certain projects related to the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan; authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to make grants for such projects; directs the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature; removes an obsolete provision.
Status:  To House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee on October 26. Referred to House Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommitte on October 26. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations on October 26 



MIDWEST MIDWESTERN STATES


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 House. To second reading on November 1

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:  To Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation and Tourism on October 31

Introduced: 10/25/17
Sponsor : Representative Beau LaFave, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Airguns/Airbows
Summary: Allows use of pneumatic airbows in certain hunting seasons.
Status: To House Committee on Natural Resources
 
Introduced: 10/11/17
Sponsor : Senator Tom Casperson, Member, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Supports scientifically based state management of gray wolves; memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact legislation that removes the Western Great Lakes gray wolf population from the endangered and threatened species list.
Status: Recommended for passage by Senate Committee on Natural Resources on October 19
 
Introduced:   5/16/17
Sponsor: Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  General
Summary: Relates to requiring an open season for woodchucks.
Status:  Passed Senate on October 31
 
Introduced: 6/29/17
Sponsor : Representative James Edming, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to a higher wild animal protection surcharge for the unlawful taking of deer.
Status: In Assembly. Substitute Amendment No. 1 offered on October 31
 
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:  Passed House on November 2

Introduced: 9/7/17
Sponsor : Representative Ken Skowronski, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary: Relates to resident deer hunting license, archer hunting license, and crossbow hunting license fees imposed for a veteran who is 70 years of age or older.
Status:  Passed House on November 2
 
Introduced: 9/7/17
Sponsor : Representative Joel Kleefisch, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to the fee for a first-time annual fishing license for residents who are 16 or 17 years old or who are 65 years old or older.
Status:   Passed House on November 2
 
Introduced: 10/10/17
Sponsor : Representative Joel Kleefisch and Representative Nick Milroy, Co-Chairs, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to restrictions on the hunting of antlerless deer by members of a group hunting party.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Rules on October 31
 
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: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on October 24
 
Introduced: 10/27/17
Sponsor : Representative Romaine Quinn, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Relates to youth and trapping; creates a mentored trapping license; relates to restrictions on taking or appropriating a trap or its contents; relates to requirements for tagging traps.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on October 27
 
Introduced: 10/13/17
Sponsor : Senator Terry Moulton, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General License
Summary: Relates to restrictions on the hunting of antlerless deer by members of a group hunting party.
Status: In Senate. Substitute Amendment No. 1 offered on October 26



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.SportsmensLink.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 brent@sportsmenslink.org
Director, Southeastern States Bee Frederick, at 202-590-0475, or bee@sportsmenslink.org
Senior Director, Midwestern States Chris Horton, at 501-865-1475, or chris@sportsmenslink.org
Senior Director, Western States Andy Treharne, at 303-789-7589, or andy@sportsmenslink.org


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