Introduced:
05/02/2017
Sponsor: Representative Jeff Spiegelman, Co-Chair, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Updates requirements for handguns used for deer hunting by adding a range and limit to allowable handgun calibers to accommodate changing handgun availability while maintaining public safety and handgun hunting efficacy; allows for pistol caliber rifle hunting for deer; makes a technical adjustment to clarify that a handgun or a pistol caliber rifle can be used for deer hunting during any shotgun deer season.
Status:
From House Committee on Agriculture: Reported without recommendation on May 17
Introduced:
05/02/2017
Sponsor: Representative Jeff Spiegelman, Co-Chair, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Airguns/Airbows
Summary:
Authorizes the use of airbows for hunting deer in place of a shotgun during any shotgun deer season; makes a technical adjustment to clarify that a handgun can be used for deer hunting during any shotgun deer season.
Status: From House Committee on Agriculture: Reported without recommendation on May 17
Introduced:
01/27/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Jonathan L. Kinney
Issue Brief:
Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
This bill expands eligibility for complimentary hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permissions necessary to hunt, trap and fish in Maine, to include nonresident disabled veterans who hold valid hunting or fishing licenses in the states in which they are residents.
Status:
In House. Passed to be enacted on May 16
Introduced:
02/03/2017
Sponsor:
Representative David Harold McCrea
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:
In House. Passed to be engrossed on May 11
Introduced:
02/07/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Jeffrey K. Pierce
Issue Brief:
Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Summary:
This bill allows Sunday hunting for migratory game birds.
Status:
House adopts Majority Committee Report: Ought not to pass on May 16
Introduced:
02/10/2017
Sponsor: Representative Peter A. Lyford, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
This bill makes the following changes to the fish and wildlife licensing laws. 1. It eliminates the $50 examination fee for a taxidermy license. 2. It clarifies the length of the period of time during which a person who has obtained a moose hunting permit is ineligible to obtain another permit. 3. It authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue a complimentary group fishing license to a person or entity that allows a group of persons with disabilities to fish in a location for a period of time as specified on the license.
Status:
In Senate. Passed to be enacted on May 16
Introduced:
02/10/2017
Sponsor: Representative Gary L. Hilliard, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Specifies that hunters under 8 years of age may not hunt moose but may purchase applications for moose hunting permits in order to accrue points in the public chance drawing for moose permits.
Status:
Eligible for Governor's desk on May 16
Introduced:
02/15/2017
Sponsor: Representative Roland Danny Martin, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Repeals the prohibition on the exchange for consideration of a moose permit in a designated hunting area, zone or season for another moose permit in a different designated hunting area, zone or season; requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to establish an online transfer system for moose permits through which transfers of designated hunting areas, zones or seasons may be accomplished.
Status:
Work Session held on May 11
Introduced:
03/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative Timothy S. Theriault, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
This bill requires the court to order the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to issue a permit to take a deer or moose to a person found not to have violated the inland fisheries and wildlife laws when a deer or moose taken by the person and seized by the department had been disposed of before that finding was made.
Status:
House adopts Majority Committee Reports: Ought not to pass on May 16
Introduced:
03/10/2017
Sponsor: Representative Russell Black, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
This bill prohibits the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from stocking fish in tributaries of state heritage fish waters and prohibits a person from using live fish as bait on such a tributary.
Status:
From Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Ought not to pass on May 12
Introduced:
03/10/2017
Sponsor: Representative Russell Black, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a Preferred Management Tool
Summary:
Current law allows the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to open to deer hunting certain coastal and island communities currently closed to hunting, subject to local approval, and to establish a youth deer hunting day. This bill requires the commissioner to open these communities to deer hunting as long as local restrictions are imposed. It requires, while current law permits, the commissioner to create special hunting seasons to control deer populations. It requires the commissioner to create special zones for deer hunting. It allows special hunting seasons and special zones to be created to minimize crop or property damage. It also requires the commissioner to establish a youth deer hunting day.
Status:
From Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Ought Not to Pass on May 16
Introduced:
03/16/2017
Sponsor: Representative William R. Tuell, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
White-tailed Deer Management - Hunting as a Preferred Management Tool
Summary:
This bill makes the penalty for hunting over bait during an open season on deer a mandatory fine of $500. It also provides for the one-year suspension of a hunting license of a person convicted of doing so.
Status:
In House. Passed to be engrossed on May 16
Introduced:
04/06/2017
Sponsor: Representative Ellie Espling, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
Ensures the continuation of the landowner relations program.
Status:
Work Session held on May 11
Introduced:
04/19/2017
Sponsor: Representative Stephen J. Wood, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Angler Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation; Modern Restraining Animal Traps; Apprentice Hunting License; Off Highway Vehicles (OHV); Seniors, Veterans, and Active Duty Military Hunting and Angling Privileges
Summary:
This bill replaces the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs program with youth and family outdoor recreational programs and activities to encourage hunting and fishing activities as well as shooting sports. It amends language regarding certain licenses to provide that certain permits are included in the licenses. It allows the spouse and children of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty who is permanently stationed outside of the State to purchase trapping licenses at a reduced rate. It simplifies language regarding a person 70 years of age or older hunting with a crossbow. It repeals a provision allowing a person under 16 years of age holding a valid junior hunting license to obtain a muzzle-loading permit from the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It adds a wild turkey hunting permit to the nonresident small game apprenticeship hunter license. It repeals law establishing a youth bear hunting day. It changes the law regarding unlawful possession of wild turkeys to reflect the increase of the bag limit from one to 2. It prohibits placing bait for wild turkeys and hunting over that bait for 30 days prior to the spring wild turkey hunting season. It adds firearms using a caliber cartridge smaller than the .22 caliber cartridge to the exceptions from the law prohibiting hunting with any automatic firearm. It amends the provision of a residents-only day in the law regarding open and closed seasons for deer to account for an exception for certain nonresident landowners. It repeals a provision making nonresident aliens ineligible to purchase a trapping license, as they are eligible to purchase a license to trap beaver when their state or province of residency allows residents of the State to trap beaver in that state or province and removes language requiring clerks or agents appointed by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to charge $2 for each trapping license issued. It raises the fee for a resident and nonresident apprentice trapper license by $1, consistent with changes to fees in Public Law 2015, chapter 245. It makes it a Class E crime for a licensee to receive, possess for resale, sell or offer to sell gift baitfish or gift smelts. It amends the law describing how the Open Water and Ice Fishing Regulations are distributed. It updates the name of an endangered species of bird. It changes the expiration date of a taxidermy license so that licenses expire 3 years from their date of issuance. It corrects a cross-reference. It allows ATVs, including 2-wheel off-road motorcycles, without headlights or taillights to be operated between sunrise and sunset.
Status:
Work Session held on May 11
Introduced:
05/03/2017
Sponsor: Representative Stephen J. Wood, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
This bill: 1. Moves the planning functions of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from the Division of Planning, which no longer exists, to the Bureau of Resource Management; 2. Allows a person to capture and possess reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates native to this State and not listed by the department as threatened, endangered or of special concern without a permit, within certain possession limits; 3. Clarifies the purpose for each type of captive wildlife permit issued by the department and the issuance of 3-day hold game bird propagation permits and one-year game bird propagation permits and establishes fees for those permits; 4. Clarifies that the provision of law regarding release of wildlife into the wild applies to birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates; 5. Eliminates the requirement to band imported pheasants; and 6. Gives the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife the authority to open a town or a designated geographical area to the taking of antlerless deer within a wildlife management district that does not allow the taking of antlerless deer.
Status:
Work Session held on May 11
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor: Senator Paul T. Davis, Co-Chair, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Eliminates the requirement that a person obtain a permit to hunt wild turkeys. This bill increases the number of wild turkeys a person may take during the spring open season for hunting wild turkeys from 2 wild turkeys of either sex to 3 male wild turkeys. This bill increases the number of wild turkeys a person may take during the fall open seasons for hunting wild turkeys from 2 to 3 of either sex over both seasons. This bill allows a person to register wild turkeys electronically or by telephone.
Status:
From Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Ought to pass on May 16
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:
Senate adopts Majority Committee Report: Ought not to pass on May 11
Introduced:
05/03/2017
Sponsor: Senator Scott Cyrway, Member, Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Airguns/ Airbows; Modern Restraining Animal Traps; Apprentice Hunting Licenses; Bear Hunting, Enforcement
Summary:
This bill makes several changes to the State's fish and wildlife enforcement laws. The bill: 1. Makes it legal for a person to use wireless, digital imaging technology as a means to comply with a trap tending requirement; 2. Makes it clear that hunting with thermal imaging equipment is illegal; 3. Creates a $20 penalty for each quart over the 2-quart limit on smelts; 4. Amends terminology in the law governing apprentice hunter license restrictions; 5. Makes it illegal to fraudulently obtain registrations in addition to licenses and permits that are provided by the department; 6. Makes failing to stop for a law enforcement officer while operating a snowmobile or watercraft a Class D crime consistent with the provision applying to all-terrain vehicles; 7. Makes the airbow a legal hunting implement when used within certain parameters. It defines "airbow," "crossbow" and "hand-held bow"; 8. Specifies that, in addition to a firearm, a person convicted of a domestic violence offense may not own, possess or have under that person's control a crossbow or muzzleloader or archery equipment; 9. Requires all edible meat from bear, deer or moose to be presented for registration along with evidence of gender. It allows these animals to be dismembered for ease of transportation; 10. Strengthens language within the prohibition of abuse of another person's property by removing reference to certain stated activities such as hunting, fishing or trapping to allow the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to enforce the law against persons who abuse another person's property but who may not be involved in an activity such as hunting, fishing or trapping; 11. Sets August 1st as the beginning date for bear baiting season; and 12. It replaces the requirement that a boat operator have a license from the department to carry passengers for hire with a requirement that the operator successfully complete a boating safety course provided by a national association of boating law administrators approved by the commissioner.
Status:
From Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Ought not to pass on May 12
Introduced:
01/04/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Eric I. Schleien
Issue Brief:
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
Summary:
Establishes post traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying medical condition under therapeutic use of cannabis; relates to moderate or severe post traumatic stress disorder; deletes the requirement that a medical provider document how the injury affects activities of daily living; clarifies the statements signed by applicants for a registry identification card.
Status:
Passed Senate. To House for concurrence on May 11
Introduced:
04/04/2016
Sponsor: Assembly Member Parker Space, Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Designates first full week of June each year as New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week.
Status:
In Assembly on May 22
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor:
Assembly Member Steve Englebright
Issue Brief:
Ivory Bans
Summary:
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; increases certain penalties and authorizes the payment of rewards for aid in the apprehension and conviction of persons guilty of certain felonies or misdemeanors relating to endangered and special species, species of special concern and illegal ivory articles and rhinoceros horns.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Codes on May 16
Introduced:
02/01/2017
Sponsor:
Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick
Issue Brief:
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing/Animal Rights Groups
Summary:
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to organize, conduct, promote or participate in any contest or competition where the objective of such contest or competition is to take the greatest number of wildlife.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Codes on May 16
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:
To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 11
Introduced:
05/15/2017
Sponsor: Assembly Member Clifford W. Crouch, Co-Chair, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to include the mourning dove within the definition of migratory game birds and to allow for their taking.
Status:
To Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 15
Introduced:
01/12/2017
Sponsor: Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Game Meat Donation Programs
Summary:
Amends the Tax Law; establishes the venison donation tax credit.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Finance on May 16
Introduced:
02/28/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Diane J. Savino
Issue Brief:
Knife Ban Repeal
Summary:
Amends the Penal Law; relates to the definition of a gravity knife; removes reference to the application of centrifugal force from the definition of a gravity knife.
Status:
From Senate Committee on Codes on May 16
Introduced:
05/10/2017
Sponsor: Senator Pamela Helming, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Makes provisions authorizing big game hunting in Seneca county permanent.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 10
Introduced:
05/11/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Susan Serino
Issue Brief:
Exotic Invasive Species
Summary:
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law; expands the definition of invasive species to include such species or pest organisms that are considered an infestation.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 11
Introduced:
05/11/2017
Sponsor: Senator James L. Seward, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Enforcement
Summary:
Makes it a misdemeanor to take or attempt to take big game outside of legal hunting hours and makes it a class D felony if another person is injured during the commission of such.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 11
Introduced:
05/11/2017
Sponsor: Senator Fred Akshar, 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:
To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on May 11
Introduced:
03/01/2017
Sponsor: Representative Dan Moul, Member, Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus
Issue Brief:
Public Access to Private Lands
Summary:
Amends the act 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, provides for liability for landowners to recreational users; provides for attorney fees and court costs.
Status:
In House Committee on Tourism and Recreational Development on June 6
Introduced:
02/23/2017
Sponsor:
Representative Barry Jozwiak
Issue Brief:
Hunting with Dogs
Summary:
Amends Game of the Consolidated Statutes; relates to in hunting and furtaking; provides for the offense of dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game.
Status:
To Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries on May 15
Introduced:
02/02/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Paul W. Fogarty
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Would require DEM to issue regulations requiring any dock or pier longer than twenty feet (20') and located on a freshwater lake or pond to be equipped with reflective material such that it can be seen by watercraft operators. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status:
To House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on May 12
Introduced:
02/02/2017
Sponsor:
Senator Paul W. Fogarty
Issue Brief:
General
Summary:
Would provide for the creation of a new position in the fish and wildlife division of the department of environmental management, and would place oversight of freshwater lakes, streams, and ponds, in the fish and wildlife division. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status:
Placed on Senate Calendar (05/17/2017) on May 11
