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. The bills noted in this email represent only a fraction of the legislation that CSF's States Program is monitoring on a day-to-day basis.

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.
Updates for the week of 
November 7, 2016

NORTHEASTNORTHEASTERN STATES


Introduced:  01/27/2016
Sponsor:  Assembly Member Troy Singleton
Issue Brief:  Modern Restraining Animal Traps; Wolf in Sheeps Clothing/ Animal Rights Groups
Summary:  Determines that Fish and Game Council's proposal to allow use of enclosed foothold traps is inconsistent with plain language and legislative intent of 1984 law banning animal traps of steel-jaw leghold type.
Status:  To Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on November 3
 
Introduced:  03/10/2016
Sponsor: Senator Stephen Sweeney, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief:  Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact 
Summary:  Enters New Jersey in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Status:  In Senate Voting Session on November 14
 
Introduced:  07/16/2015
Sponsor: Representative Keith Gillespie, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:  Apprentice Hunting License
Summary:  Relates to the Pennsylvania Game Commission; provides for junior hunter projects; relates to hunting and furtaking licenses; provides for a volunteer instructor license and further provides for license costs and fees and for unlawful acts concerning licenses.
Status:  In Senate on third consideration on November 9


SOUTHEASTSOUTHEASTERN STATES


Prefiled: 10/28/2016
Sponsor: Representative Addia Wuchner
Issue Brief:  General License
Summary:  Removes the sport fishing license exemption for resident farmland owners and create a new sport fishing license exemption for private landowners and their spouses, dependents, tenants, and invited guests when fishing on their property from ponds or lakes that do not allow fish entry from or exit to public waters.
Status:  Prefiled on October 28


MIDWESTMIDWESTERN STATES


Introduced:  10/17/2016
Sponsor:  Representative Sonya M. Harper
Issue Brief:  Ammunition Restrictions (non-lead); Bullet Serialization
Summary:  Provides that all handgun ammunition shall be serialized; relates to offenses for handgun ammunition that is not serialized; provides that the Department of State Police shall maintain a centralized registry of handgun ammunition transactions; provides that information in the registry shall be provided to certain individuals; provides that the Department of State Police shall adopt rules relating to the assessment and collection of end-user fees to pay for these provisions.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary - Criminal on November 9
 

WESTWESTERN STATES  
 
 
Introduced:  06/30/2016
Issue Brief:  Ammunition Restrictions (non-lead); Standard Capacity Magazines
Summary:  Prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. Requires their disposal by sale to dealer, destruction, or removal from state. Requires most individuals to pass background check and obtain Department of Justice (DOJ) authorization to purchase ammunition. Requires most ammunition sales be made through licensed ammunition vendors and reported to DOJ. Requires lost or stolen firearms and ammunition be reported to law enforcement.
Status:  Passed on November 8
 
Prefiled: 08/08/2016 
Sponsor:  Office of Senator Steve Hinebauch
Issue Brief:  General;  No-Net-Loss
Summary:  Revises fish, wildlife, and parks laws.
Status:  Draft on hold on November 1
 
Prefiled: 09/15/2016 
Sponsor:  Environmental Quality Council
Issue Brief:  General
Summary:  Revises the free elk license, relates to a permit for a landowner providing free public elk hunting.
Status:  Draft to requester for review on November 6
 
Prefiled:  09/15/2016
Sponsor:  Environmental Quality Council
Issue Brief:  General License
Summary: Revises license laws for hunting, fishing by nonresident relatives of residents. 
Status:  Draft to requester for review on November 6
 
Prefiled:  09/15/2016
Sponsor:  Environmental Quality Council
Issue Brief:  General
Summary:  Allocates wild buffalo licenses to Indian tribes for traditional purposes.
Status:  Draft to requester for review on November 7
 
Qualification: 06/ 30/2016
Issue Brief: Modern Restraining Animal Traps 
Summary:  Provides for a ballot question prohibiting the use of traps and snares for animals on public lands and establishing misdemeanor criminal penalties for violations.
Status:  Failed to pass by a vote of the general public on November 8


        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: 
 
Midwestern States Director Chris Horton, at 501.865.1475, or email  chris@sportsmenslink.org
Northeastern States Director Brent Miller, at 202.543.6850 x 13, or email  brent@sportsmenslink.org
Southeastern States Director Bee Frederick, at 334.593.6988, or email  bee@sportsmenslink.org
Western States Director Andy Treharne, at 303.789.7589, or email  andy@sportsmenslink.org


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