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 
August 28, 2017
NORTHEAST
NORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced: 01/05/2017
Sponsor: Representative Judith T. Spang
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Identifies and defines different types of wetlands protected under the Wetlands Protection Act.
Status: Full Committee Work Session scheduled for 09/13/2017 on August 31

Introduced: 01/30/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Steve Englebright
Issue Brief: Hunter Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation
Summary:  Relates to youth pheasant hunting days on Long Island.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 02/02/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Fred W. Thiele
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides a safe harbor exemption to commercial fishing vessels in certain emergency situations.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/11/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Addie Jenne, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Relates to authorizing angling by a single individual with up to three lines in freshwater; extends effectiveness of provisions for two years.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/15/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Brian Kolb, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Makes provisions authorizing big game hunting in Seneca county permanent.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/19/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Anthony D'Urso
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Relates to extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage black sea bass; extends provisions to December 31, 2020.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/19/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Frank Skartados, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage squid.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/19/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Monica P. Wallace
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to extending the authority of the department of environmental conservation to restrict the taking of fish, shellfish and crustacea in special management areas.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 05/30/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member William Colton
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the authority of the department of environmental conservation to manage winter flounder.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Christine Pellegrino
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Didi Barrett, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to extending the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage Atlantic cod.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Pheffer Amato
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage Atlantic herring.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Pamela J. Hunter
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to extending the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage blueback herring to 2020.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Jaime R. Williams
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to extending the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage fluke-summer flounder.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Luis R. Sepulveda
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; extends the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage sharks; extends provisions until December 31, 2020.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21

Introduced: 06/05/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou
Issue Brief: State Fish and Wildlife Management Authority
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; relates to extending the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation to manage whelk and conch until December thirty-first, two thousand twenty.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21
 
Introduced: 01/06/2017
Sponsor: Senator Robert Ortt, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife
Summary:  Relates to the right to hunt, trap and fish; provides for regulation by the state.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on June 21

Introduced: 01/09/2017
Sponsor: Senator Patrick Gallivan, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Crossbows
Summary:  Amends the environmental conservation law, in relation to crossbows; repeals certain provisions of such law relating thereto.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on June 21

Introduced: 01/17/2017
Sponsor: Senator Tom O'Mara, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunting, Fishing, and Nature Appreciation in the Schools
Summary:  Relates to hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Rules on June 21

Introduced: 03/06/2017
Sponsor: Senator Robert Ortt, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; authorizes hunting of big game with rifles in the county of Orleans.
Status: Signed by Governor on August 21
 
Introduced: 08/18/2017
Sponsor: Representative H. Scott Conklin, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/Animal Rights Groups
Summary:  Amends the County Code, in special Powers and duties of counties; provides for county humane officers.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs on August 18

Introduced: 08/30/2017
Sponsor: Representative Thomas P. Murt
Issue Brief: General
Summary:  Designates a specific month as Commonwealth Hunters Recognition Month.
Status: Introduced on August 30

SOUTHEAST
SOUTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced:  08/18/2017
Sponsor:  Representative Kristin Diane Jacobs
Issue Brief:  Marine Protected Areas
Summary:  Relates to coral reefs; establishes the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area.
Status:  To House Natural Resources and Public Lands Committee on August 30. Referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on August 30. Referred to House Committee on Government Accountability on August 30.
 
Introduced:  08/16/2017
Sponsor:  Senator Linda Stewart
Issue Brief:  General, Forest Management
Summary:  Relates to Florida black bears; prohibits the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from allowing the recreational hunting of Florida black bears mothering cubs at a specified weight, under a black bear hunting permit; specifies a penalty for the unlawful harvesting of saw palmetto berries on state lands; prohibits controlled burning in a black bear habitat during a specified month.
Status:  To Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation on August 28. Referred to Senate Committee on Criminal Justice on August 28. Referred to Senate Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources on August 28. Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on August 28.
 
Introduced:  08/22/2017
Sponsor:  Senator Linda Stewart
Issue Brief:  Modern Sporting Rifle, High Capacity Magazines, Guns
Summary:  Relates to gun safety; defines terms; prohibits the sale or transfer of an assault weapon or large-capacity magazine; provides exceptions; provides criminal penalties; prohibits possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine; provides exceptions; provides criminal penalties; requires certificates of possession for assault weapons or large-capacity magazines lawfully possessed before a specified date.
Status:  To Senate Committee on Judiciary on August 28. Referred to Senate Committee on Criminal Justice on August 28. Referred to Senate Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on August 28. Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations on August 28.
 
Introduced:  02/08/2017
Sponsor: Representative Pat McElraft, Member, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  General
Summary:  Amends various environmental laws.
Status:  Conference Committee Report adopted by House and to Governor on August 31


MIDWEST MIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced: 02/02/2017
Sponsor: Representative Tony McCombie
Issue Brief: Licenses (General)
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; provides that non-resident and resident aquatic life dealer licenses, wholesale aquatic life dealer licenses, mussel dealer permits, minnow dealer licenses, taxidermist licenses, aquaculture permits, commercial roe dealer permits, and daily fee fishing area licenses shall all expire on a specified date annually; amends the Wildlife Code to make a conforming change.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 22
 
Introduced: 02/08/2017
Sponsor: Representative Jerry Costello, Member, Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; provides that except as provided in the Code, it is unlawful to possess the green hides of fur bearing mammals without a valid hunting or trapping license; provides that the annual fee for each resident fur buyer's permit shall be a specified amount; provides that all fur buyers and non-resident auction participants shall maintain records of the receipt, collection, purchase, and sale of green hides of fur-bearing mammals.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 18

Introduced: 02/08/2017
Sponsor: Representative Tom Demmer
Issue Brief: American System of Conservation Funding
Summary: Amends the Highway Code; provides that money received by the State from the federal government under the Recreational Trails Program shall not be considered for use as aid in construction of highways, and shall be placed in the Park and Conservation Fund.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 18
 
Introduced: 02/09/2017
Sponsor: Representative Avery Bourne
Issue Brief: Licenses (General)
Summary: Amends the Wildlife Code; defines hunting license as an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal during a specified period of time.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 18

Introduced: 02/09/2017
Sponsor: Representative Sheri Jesiel
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; provides that all trout, including lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish may not be taken by commercial fishing devices, including gill or pound nets; provides that any incidental catch of trout, including lake trout, salmon, and lake whitefish taken in legal sized gill or pound nets must be returned immediately to the water; provides that the methods of taking are subject to modification by administrative rule based upon lake-wide scientific assessment data.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 18

Introduced: 02/09/2017
Sponsor: Representative Sheri Jesiel
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code; provides the maximum number of commercial fishing licenses for taking from the Waters of Lake Michigan yellow perch, bloater chub, and other commercial fish species designated by the Department of Natural Resources; provides that, at times determined by the Director, the Department shall advertise a public drawing to accept new qualified commercial fishing candidates and establish a ranking order for these new candidates.
Status: Signed by Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Member Governor Bruce Rauner on August 18
 
Introduced: 8/17/17
Sponsor : Representative Katrina Shankland, Member, Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Summary: Relates to funding for chronic wasting disease management; makes an appropriation.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage on August 17


WESTWESTERN STATES

 
Introduced:  12/05/2016
Sponsor:  Senator Mike McGuire
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Urges state and federal departments and agencies responsible for the stewardship of public resources to make collaborative, statewide salmon fishery restoration an urgent and high priority. Urges the federal government to undertake all appropriate measures to provide necessary disaster relief for California salmon fisheries for 2016 and 2017.
Status: From Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife: Adopted to Committee on Appropriations on August 31
 
Introduced : 3/3/2017
Sponsor: Representative Brian Clem, Member, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief : General
Summary : Establishes Oregon Agricultural Heritage Fund and continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board; authorizes use of moneys for purposes associated with supporting use of land for agricultural production, maintenance or enhancement of fish or wildlife habitat, improvement of water quality or support of other natural resource values; establishes programs to provide grants for qualifying conservation management plans, working land conservation covenants or working land.
Status : Signed into law on August 16

Introduced : 3/28/2017
Sponsor: Senator Arnie Roblan, Member, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief : General
Summary : Declares state policy on ocean acidification and hypoxia; establishes Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia; establishes duties of coordinating council; requires coordinating council to submit biennial report to Legislative Assembly and Ocean Policy Advisory Council by a specified date of each even-numbered year on coordinating council's activities and recommendations.
Status : Signed into law on August 16
        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 [email protected]
Director, Southeastern States Bee Frederick, at 202-590-0475, or [email protected]
Senior Director, Midwestern States Chris Horton, at 501-865-1475, or [email protected]
Senior Director, Western States Andy Treharne, at 303-789-7589, or [email protected]


Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter View our videos on YouTube View on Instagram