Introduced:
01/11/2017
Sponsor: Representative Melissa H. Ziobron, Member, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Specieis
Summary:
Requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to prepare a plan for the rapid detection and eradication of newly discovered terrestrial invasive species.
Status:
Reissued by Legislative Commissioner's Office with File No. 249
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor: Representative Timothy J. Ackert, Member, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Waives hunting license fees for bow and arrow hunters who are sixty-five and older; waives hunting license fees for certain senior citizens who hunt by bow and arrow.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Kevin Skulczyck
Issue Brief:
Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary:
Requires Sunday to be closed season except for hunting on private property and for the purpose of trapping under the provisions of this chapter.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Stephanie Cummings
Issue Brief:
Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary:
Allows Sunday hunting on private lands.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Alfred F. Camillo
Issue Brief:
Modern Restraining Animal Traps
Summary:
Authorizes local bans on the trapping of animals; provides for local control of trapping.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Representative Robert C. Sampson, Member, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Authorizes lifetime hunting and fishing licenses; allows for the purchase of lifetime hunting and lifetime fishing licenses; provides for an endorsement on the motor vehicle operator's license.
Status:
Reissued by Legislative Commissioner's Office with File No. 252
Introduced:
01/19/2017
Sponsor:
Representative David A. Baram
Issue Brief:
Lead Ammunition and Fishing Tackle Bans
Summary:
Prohibits the manufacture, sale and use of fishing tackle that contains lead; protects loons and other diving birds from ingesting toxic lead through fish sources and other marine debris in order to preserve the health of such birds.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/23/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Anne Dauphinais
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Authorizes the unlimited taking of game pursuant to a hunting license; removes limits on the number of game that may be taken pursuant to a hunting license.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/23/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Diana S. Urban
Issue Brief:
Ivory Bans
Summary:
Prohibits the sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns; provides criminal penalties for the sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns.
Status:
Reissued by Legislative Commissioner's Office with File No. 257
Introduced:
01/23/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Rick Lopes
Issue Brief:
Firearm Suppressors
Summary:
Authorizes the use of suppressors on hunting rifles; reduces hearing loss and hearing damage from firearm discharges.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/23/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Mitch Bolinsky
Issue Brief:
Ivory Bans
Summary:
Concerns the sale and trade of ivory and rhinoceros horn in the state; prohibits the sale and trade of ivory and rhinoceros horn in the state while preserving the antiques trade in Connecticut.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/19/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Bob Duff
Issue Brief:
"Big 5" Trophy Importation Bans
Summary:
Concerns Cecil's Law; prohibits importation of big five African species; allows law enforcement officer to have authority to enforce the provisions of this section and, whenever necessary, to execute any warrant to search for and seize any big five African species imported, possessed, sold, offered for sale or transported.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor: Senator Craig Miner, Co-Chair, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to establish a dove hunting season; allows dove hunting.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor: Senator Craig Miner, Co-Chair, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Bear Hunting
Summary:
Authorizes bear hunting in the state of Connecticut.
Status:
Reissued by Legislative Commissioner's Office with File No. 241 on March 27
Introduced:
01/20/2017
Sponsor: Senator Craig Miner, Co-Chair, Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Requires the adoption of regulations to establish a lifetime hunting and fishing license; establishes a lifetime hunting and fishing license.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
02/16/2017
Sponsor:
Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
Concerns sport fishing licenses for persons age sixty-five and older; establishes a fishing license fee for certain persons who are age sixty-five and older.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
03/01/2017
Sponsor:
Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief:
"Big 5" Trophy Importation Bans
Summary:
Concerns Cecil's law; prohibits the importation of big five African species.
Status:
Failed Joint Favorable deadline on March 24
Introduced:
03/28/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Sean Lynn
Issue Brief:
Ivory Ban
Summary:
Prohibits a person from purchasing, selling, offering for sale, possessing with intent to sell, or importing with intent to sell ivory or rhinoceros horn, except as specified; violations of this Act or any rule, regulation, or order adopted under this Act is a misdemeanor subject to fines, imprisonment, or both, as specified in this Act; adds to the specified criminal penalties.
Status:
To House Committee on Natural Resources on March 28
Introduced:
02/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative David Harold McCrea, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Cauus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Allows a hunter whose religion prohibits the wearing of hunter orange to instead wear red. It also directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to amend its rules to reflect this exemption.
Status:
Work session held on March 28
Introduced:
02/10/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Roger E. Reed
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Guarantees a moose permit to resident applicants who are 65 years of age or older and have accumulated 30 points or more in the public chance drawing for moose permits.
Status:
Work session held on March 23
Introduced:
02/10/2017
Sponsor: Representative Gary L. Hilliard, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
This bill prohibits destroying, tearing down, defacing or otherwise damaging property posting signs by hunters and provides for the one-year suspension of the hunting license of a person who is convicted of doing so.
Status:
Work session held on March 28
Introduced:
03/22/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Karen A. Gerrish
Issue Brief:
Crossbows
Summary:
This bill expands crossbow hunting for deer into the regular archery-only season on deer. It removes the requirement that a person must have a valid hunting or archery hunting license or an apprenticeship hunter license or archery hunting license in order to hunt with a crossbow. It also lowers from 70 years of age to 65 years of age the age at which a person may hunt a wild bird or wild animal with a crossbow during any open season on that wild bird or wild animal, hunt in an expanded archery zone and hunt during muzzle-loading-only deer hunting season.
Status:
Senate refers to Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in concurrence on March 28
Introduced:
01/09/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Eric Brakey
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
This bill lowers from 21 years of age to 18 years of age the age at which a person may carry a concealed handgun.
Status:
Work session held on March 24
Introduced:
02/07/2017
Sponsor:
Senator David Miramant
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
This bill, using language modeled on the law regarding permits to carry concealed handguns, requires a person attempting to purchase a firearm to present the seller with proof of having successfully completed military firearms training or an approved firearm safety course. The bill also provides that a person may meet this requirement by presenting proof of having satisfied the handgun safety course requirements for a permit to carry concealed handguns.
Status:
Work session held on March 24
Introduced:
02/15/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Eric Brakey
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
Eliminates the provision of law that requires a person lawfully in possession of a concealed handgun without a permit during the course of a detainment or routine traffic stop to inform the law enforcement officer that the person is in possession of the handgun.
Status:
Work session held on March 24
Introduced:
02/15/2017
Sponsor: Senator Thomas B. Saviello, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
This bill allows a person who has lawfully killed a wild animal to sell the meat of the animal at a wild game dinner or to the organizer of a wild game dinner. The bill defines "wild game dinner" as a single event where meat from a lawfully taken animal is cooked and sold to persons at the event for immediate consumption.
Status:
Work session held on March 28
Introduced:
03/23/2017
Sponsor: Senator Thomas B. Saviello, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Species
Summary:
This bill temporarily increases by $1 the annual fee for the lake and river protection sticker required under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 13058. The additional revenue from this increased fee may be used to fund a study of the State's efforts to prevent the infestation of, to control, to eradicate and to otherwise manage invasive aquatic plants and nuisance species in the waters of the State through the program implemented under Title 38, chapter 20-A.
Status:
House refers to Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in Concurrence on March 28
Introduced:
03/23/2017
Sponsor: Senator Thomas B. Saviello, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
American System of Conservation Funding
Summary:
This bill creates the Maine Outdoor Programs and Activities Fund, administered by the Maine Outdoor Programs and Activities Fund Board, to carry out the mission of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The fund provides on a regional basis funding and grants to departmental and other outdoor programs and activities including funding for snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trail improvements, fish and game organizations and youth outdoor activity programs. The Maine Outdoor Programs and Activities Fund is funded by adding $1 to a resident fishing license fee and $2 to a nonresident season fishing license fee for persons 16 years of age or older.
Status:
House refers to Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in Concurrence on March 28
Introduced:
03/27/2017
Sponsor: Senator Paul T. Davis, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Current law allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to change the date of the opening of a fishing season due to seasonal temperature changes or weather conditions. This bill eliminates the reference to seasonal temperature changes and allows the commissioner to change both the opening and closing dates of a fishing season based on weather conditions.
Status:
Work session held on March 29
Introduced:
01/25/2017
Sponsor:
Montgomery County Delegation
Issue Brief:
Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary:
Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to allow a person to hunt deer on specified property during a specified time period on specified Sundays in Montgomery County, subject to specified provisions of law; establishes that the authority of the Department to allow deer hunting on specified Sundays does not apply in Montgomery County.
Status:
In Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on April 4
Introduced:
01/25/2017
Sponsor:
Montgomery County Delegation
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Alters the size of the safety zone for archery hunters in Montgomery County within which archery hunting may not take place except under specified circumstances; requires archery hunters in Montgomery County to use a tree stand when hunting certain animals within a certain distance of certain buildings.
Status:
In Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on April 4
Introduced:
02/06/2017
Sponsor:
Wicomico County Delegation
Issue Brief:
Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary:
Authorizes a person in Wicomico County to hunt deer on private property on specified Sundays.
Status:
In Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on April 4
Introduced:
02/06/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Jim Gilchrist
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from reducing or altering the boundaries of certain oyster sanctuaries until the Department develops a certain plan.
Status:
Passed Senate. Eligible for Governor's desk on March 28
Introduced:
02/10/2017
Sponsor:
Delegate Herb McMillan
Issue Brief:
Apprentice Hunting License
Summary:
Establishes an apprentice hunting license that confers specified rights on a purchaser of the license; authorizes a person to obtain an apprentice hunting license on completion of a short online or electronic course of instruction in competency in firearms and hunter safety approved by the Department of Natural Resources; authorizes specified persons to hunt under an apprentice license only if accompanied and directly supervised by a person who is at least a minimum age and has a valid resident permit.
Status:
In Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs on April 4
Introduced:
01/13/2017
Sponsor: Senator Steve Waugh, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Repeals specified provisions of law that relate to trapping or shooting specified foxes or shooting or molesting specified hounds in St. Mary's County.
Status:
To House Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations on March 24
Introduced:
01/18/2017
Sponsor: Senator Bryan Simonaire, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Enforcement
Summary:
Requires the Maryland Judiciary to notify the Department of Natural Resources of any person who is subject to a condition of sentencing or probation that specifically prohibits the person from operating a motorized vessel or a sailboat on the Waters of the State or any recreational or commercial hunting activity in the State.
Status:
Passed Senate. To House Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations on March 28
Introduced:
02/15/2017
Sponsor: Senator Bryan Simonaire, Member, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Enforcement
Summary:
Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources, in addition to specified other applicable penalties, to suspend for up to a certain period of time the privilege to operate a vessel on the Waters of the State of a person who is convicted of operating a vessel on Waters of the State while under the influence of alcohol; prohibits a person from operating a vessel on the Waters of the State during a period of suspension of the privilege to operate a vessel on the Waters of the State.
Status:
In House Committee on Judiciary on April 4
Introduced:
01/04/2017
Sponsor: Representative Mark L. Proulx, Member, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
Allows the possession of a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun, or a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in a magazine or clip attached to the gun in a motorhome when not driven.
Status:
Hearing scheduled for March 28
Introduced:
01/04/2017
Sponsor: Representative Gene G. Chandler, Co-Chair, New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
American System of Conservation Funding
Summary:
Provides for a portion of funds in the wildlife habitat account to be used for fish and game department boundary work, and prohibits wildlife habitat account and fisheries habitat account funds from being expended for equipment; corrects references to legislative committees.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 29
Introduced:
01/05/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Karel A. Crawford
Issue Brief:
Crossbows
Summary:
Allows a person sixty-eight years of age or older holding a archery license may use a crossbow as an alternative to traditional bow and arrow during the archery deer season without obtaining an additional permit.
Status:
Passed Senate on March 29
Introduced:
02/07/2017
Sponsor:
Assembly Member Michael J. Norris
Issue Brief:
Firearm Suppressors
Summary:
Removes the prohibition on firearm silencers.
Status:
Amended in Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 28
Introduced:
03/22/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Aileen M. Gunther, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Provides that dogs engaged in hunting and training as authorized by the environmental conservation law, shall not be deemed to be running at large in violation of any local law or ordinance.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Agriculture on March 22
Introduced:
03/22/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Stephen Hawley, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
Amends the Penal Law; provides that a license to possess a pistol or revolver shall permit the licensee to carry such weapon concealed.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Codes on March 22
Introduced:
03/28/2017
Sponsor:
Assembly Member Sean Ryan
Issue Brief:
Licenses (General)
Summary:
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides hunting safety instructors with a free hunting license in consideration for such services for the next license year beginning after the date the course was completed.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 28
Introduced:
01/06/2017
Sponsor: Senator John J. Bonacic, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Hunter Education
Summary:
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; requires the commissioner of environmental conservation to promote education in hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 28
Introduced:
03/28/2017
Sponsor: Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, 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; relates to providing a fishing license exemption for disabled persons that do not live in a group home.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on March 28
Introduced:
03/27/2017
Sponsor: Representative Matt Gabler, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Guns (General), Ammunition
Summary:
Prohibits certain firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition from being subject to federal law or federal regulation.
Status:
To House Committee on Judiciary on March 27
Introduced:
03/27/2017
Sponsor: Representative Kurt Masser, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
Amends the act of February 2, 1966 (1965 P.L.1860, No.586), 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, providing for definitions, for applicability and for liability.
Status:
To House Committee on Tourism and Recreational Development on March 27
Introduced:
03/28/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Dave Reed
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Amends Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection of property and persons; provides for safety zones.
Status:
To House Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 28
Introduced:
03/02/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Wayne Langerholc
Issue Brief:
Guns (General), Ammunition
Summary:
Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions; provides for findings regarding firearms and ammunition; relates to preemptions; provides for regulation of firearms and ammunition.
Status:
In Senate. Read first time on March 28
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor: Senator John Eichelberger, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
American System of Conservation Funding
Summary:
Amends Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, providing for power to set fees in fiscal affairs; provides for collection fee for uncollectible checks; in fishing licenses; provides for nonresident and tourist licenses, for one-day resident fishing license, for license, permit and issuing agent fees and for license and permit packaging options.
Status:
To House Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 28
Introduced:
01/26/2017
Sponsor: Senator Pat Stefano, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
American System of Conservation Funding
Summary:
Relates to Game; relates to Pennsylvania Game Commission; provides for powers and duties of commission and for accountability; relates to hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for license costs and fees and making an editorial change.
Status:
To House Committee on Game and Fisheries on March 28
Introduced:
02/01/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Joshua Miller
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
(Resolution) Would extend the reporting and expiration dates for the special legislative commission to study waterfowl hunting laws and regulations from January 3, 2017, to November 1, 2017, and said commission would expire on December 31, 2017.
Status:
Adopted, Resolution No. 2017-119 on March 15
Introduced:
02/22/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Maxine Grad
Issue Brief:
Guns (General)
Summary:
Relates to confiscation of dangerous or deadly weapons from a person arrested or cited for domestic assault.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 23
Introduced:
03/03/2017
Sponsor: Senator John Rodgers, Co-Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Species
Summary:
Relates to aquatic nuisance species control.
Status:
To House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife on March 28
