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 represent only a fraction of the legislation that CSF’s States Program is monitoring on a day-to-day basis. Please visit their 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.
Connecticut H 5146
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Sampson
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Authorizes the carrying of a handgun for self-defense in state parks and forests; allows persons to carry handguns in state parks and state forests for the purpose of self-defense.
Status: To Joint Committee on Environment on January 9
Connecticut H 5196
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Sampson
Issue Brief: Ammunition; Guns
Summary: Repeals certain gun control legislation; repeals gun control legislation enacted in 2013.
Status: To Joint Committee on Judiciary on January 9
Connecticut H 5381
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Sampson
Issue Brief: Guns, NICS
Summary: Removes voluntary admission to a hospital for psychiatric disabilities as a reason to deny a firearm permit or certificate; encourages a person to voluntarily admit himself or herself to a hospital for psychiatric disabilities by not disqualifying such person from receiving a firearm permit or certificate based solely on such voluntary admission.
Status: To Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security on January 14
District of Columbia B 1045
Introduced: 12/16/2014
Sponsor: Chairman Phil Mendelson
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: (Emergency Act) Amends, on an emergency basis, the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 to permit individuals to register a firearm for self-defense in their place of business; provides a Freedom of Information Act exception; specifies application requirements for applying for a license to carry a concealed pistol; specifies the duration of such licenses and requirements for renewal of licenses; establishes duties of licensees; provides for revocation of licenses; provides penalties.
Status: Signed by Mayor. Expires 04/06/2015. Assigned Act No. 564 on January 6
Indiana H 1020
Introduced: 01/06/2015
Sponsor: Representative Ron Bacon, Member, Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Amends the law providing for the removal of obstructions from mutual drains and natural surface watercourses to make the law apply also to the removal of obstructions from streams; provides that the owner of a tract of land that is adversely affected by an obstruction in a stream may petition the drainage board of the county in which the obstruction is located for the removal of the obstruction, even if the owner’s tract of land is not located in the county in which the obstruction is located.
Status: To House Committee on Local Government on January 6
Indiana H 1143
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Representative Jim Lucas
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Prohibits a state agency, including a state supported college or university, from regulating the possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories on land that is or in buildings and other structures that are owned or leased by the state. Provides for certain exceptions; voids any rules or policies enacted by a state agency concerning possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories on land or in structures owned or leased by the state.
Status: To House Committee on Public Policy on January 8
Indiana SJR 2
Introduced: 01/06/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brent Steele, Co-Chair, Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish
Summary: Provides that the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife is a valued part of State’s heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good; provides that the people have a right, which includes the right to use traditional methods, to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, subject only to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the General Assembly to promote wildlife conservation and management; preserves the future of hunting and fishing.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources on January 6
Iowa S 30
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Senator Matt McCoy, Member, Iowa Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Ivory
Summary: Prohibits the sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns with exceptions; provides that a person who sells, offers for sale, purchases, trades, barters, or distributes an ivory article or rhinoceros horn is guilty of a class D felony; provides that the sentence for a class D felony; allows the Department of Natural Resources to issue permits for sales of ivory articles or rhinoceros horns.
Status: To Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on January 14
Iowa SSB 1013
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee
Issue Brief: High Fence; Deer Management
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to quarantine preserve whitetail and land associated with hunting preserves or former hunting preserves; authorizes the Department to regulate land associated with hunting preserves or former hunting preserves by requiring the department to develop, administer, and enforce hunting preserve programs and requirements that include the quarantine of preserve whitetail for disease and the quarantine of a hunting preserve or land.
Status: Introduced on January 14
Nebraska L 127
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Senator Ernie Chambers
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Eliminates provisions relating to hunting mountain Lions.
Status: To Legislative Committee on Natural Resources on January 12
Nebraska L 128
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Senator Ernie Chambers
Issue Brief: Anti
Summary: Repeals the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Act.
Status: To Legislative Committee on Agriculture on January 12
New Jersey S 573
Introduced: 01/14/2014
Sponsor: Senator Shirley Turner
Issue Brief: Apprentice Hunting License
Summary: Establishes certain apprentice hunting licenses.
Status: To Senate Committee on Budget and Appropriations on January 13
New Jersey S 699
Introduced: 01/14/2014
Sponsor: Senator Joseph Kyrillos Jr., Member, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes hunting of game animals every day of the week during hunting season.
Status: From Senate Committee on Environment and Energy on January 13
New Jersey S 1683
Introduced: 03/17/2014
Sponsor: Senator Steven Oroho, Co-Chair, New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus
Issue Brief: Sunday Hunting
Summary: Authorizes Sunday bow hunting on federal military installations.
Status: From Senate Committee on Environment and Energy as amended on January 13
New York S 1113
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Senator Jose Peralta
Issue Brief: Microstamping
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; requires semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in this state to be capable of microstamping ammunition; establishes fines for violations of this requirement and provides for an affirmative defense if the dealer had a certification from the manufacturer.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 8
New York A 53
Introduced: 01/07/20151
Sponsor: Assembly Member Amy Paulin
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Enacts “Nicholas’s law”; requires the safe storage of all weapons, either in a safe or with a locking device, and provides penalties for simple and complex violations; requires notices to be furnished upon transfer of weapons and issuance/renewal of licenses; defines weapons to mean rifles, shotguns, and firearms; does not preempt local laws no less restrictive or stringent.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Codes on January 7
New York A 198
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Assembly Member David Gantt
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Prohibits persons from having or possessing a firearm, including, but not limited to, a pistol, revolver, and a “sawed-off” shotgun or rifle unless he has successfully completed a firearm proficiency examination, the standards for which are to be prepared by the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services and the superintendent of the division of the state police; exempts police officers and retired police officers.
Status: To Assembly Committee on Codes on January 7
New York S 612
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Senator Phil Boyle, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Creates the “Defend Our Homes act;” authorizes the possession of a magazine with more than 7 rounds but less than 11 rounds in a person’s home.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 7
New York S 991
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns, Recruitment
Summary: Amends the Penal Law; authorizes possession of a rifle or shotgun at a shooting range by a person between the ages of ten and twelve under the immediate supervision of certain authorized persons.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 7
New York S 829
Introduced: 01/07/2015
Sponsor: Senator Tom Libous
Issue Brief: Angling Access
Summary: Eliminates the expiration of and makes permanent, provisions of law authorizing an individual to fish with up to 3 lines in freshwater.
Status: To Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation on January 7
New York S 1193
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Senator Kathleen Marchione, Member, New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Repeals chapter 1 of the Laws of 2013, amending the criminal procedure law and other Laws relating to suspension and revocation of firearms licenses; private sale or disposal of firearms, rifles or shotguns and establishing a minimum age to possess a firearm relating to gun control.
Status: To Senate Committee on Codes on January 9
New York S 1201
Introduced: 01/09/2015
Sponsor: Senator Jose Serrano
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Prohibits the possession of concealed firearms in any national park or national wildlife refuge system; imposes a civil penalty for a violation thereof.
Status: To Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation on January 9
South Carolina H 3033
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter
Issue Brief: Ammunition, NICS, Sound Suppressors
Summary: Requires a national instant criminal background check before any sale, exchange, or transfer of a firearm in the state and to provide procedures for the background checks; requires national instant criminal background checks at gun shows and to provide procedures for the background checks; exempts records kept from disclosure as a public record under the freedom of information act and to provide a penalty for a violation of the article.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 13
South Carolina H 3115
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Mike Pitts, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses past President
Issue Brief: Guns; Knife Preemption
Summary: Relates to the regulation of the ownership, transfer, or possession of firearms or ammunition; provides that no governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision in the state may enact, enforce, or promulgate any regulation or ordinance that regulates or attempts to regulate the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of knives, firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 13
South Carolina H 3118
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Mike Pitts, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses past President
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to promulgate regulations governing certain areas to establish seasons, dates, areas, bag limits, and other restrictions for hunting and taking wild turkey; establishes male wild turkey hunting season as March 20 through May 5; declares the Saturday preceding March 20 of each year to be South Carolina youth turkey hunting day and provide a procedure for youth turkey hunting on this day; provides a wild turkey bag limit.
Status: To House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs on January 13
South Carolina H 3207
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Robert Brown
Issue Brief: Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday
Summary: Relates to sales tax exemptions; deletes the exemption on certain guns on second amendment weekend.
Status: To House Committee on Ways and Means on January 13
South Carolina S 57
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator George Campsen, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Anti; General
Summary: Provides the Department of Natural Resources the authority to promulgate regulations governing certain areas to establish seasons, dates, areas, bag limits, and other restrictions for hunting and taking wild turkey; relates to the Department’s regulation of the hunting of wild turkeys; revises the season for the hunting and taking of male wild turkeys; establishes a youth turkey hunting day; establishes bag limits for the taking of male wild turkeys; revises the penalties for violations.
Status: To Senate Committee on Fish, Game, and Forestry on January 13
South Carolina S 71
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator George Campsen, Member, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Anti; Crossbows; General; Seniors and Veterans
Summary: Relates to protection of game; provides the Department of Natural Resources the authority to promulgate regulations governing certain areas to establish seasons, dates, areas, bag limits, and other restrictions for hunting and taking wild turkey; relates to the Department’s regulation of the hunting of wild turkeys; revises the season for the hunting and taking of male wild turkeys; establishes a youth turkey hunting day; revises the penalties for violations.
Status: To Senate Committee on Fish, Game, and Forestry on January 13
South Carolina S 95
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Lee Bright
Issue Brief: Appreciation in School; Range Protection; Shooting Schools
Summary: Relates to subjects of instruction in schools of this state; provides that any school district and charter school, public school, private school, parochial school, magnet school, or home school may offer as an elective course a one-semester, one credit course in firearm marksmanship that shall be designated as the South Carolina gun safety program course; provides for the requirements of the course; provides for the certification requirements of course instructors.
Status: To Senate Committee on Education on January 13
South Carolina S 110
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Lee Bright
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to firearms; provides that a valid permit to carry concealable weapons issued by a state that South Carolina recognizes reciprocally shall remain valid until its expiration date should the holder become a resident of this state.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary on January 13
South Carolina S 158
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Katrina Shealy
Issue Brief: General; General License
Summary: Relates to the exemptions of certain activities from the Animal Fighting and Baiting Act; deletes the exemption of bear-baying; relates to bear hunting and unlawful acts in regard to bears including a provision that it is unlawful to possess a captive bear except by permit issued by the Department of Natural resources.
Status: To Senate Committee on Judiciary on January 13
Texas H 206
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative Jeff Leach
Issue Brief: Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday
Summary: Relates to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting supplies for a limited period.
Status: Introduced on January 13
Texas H 508
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Representative John Raney
Issue Brief: Hunter Education
Summary: Relates to an exemption for certain law enforcement and military personnel from the requirement to complete a hunter education program; authorizes a fee.
Status: Introduced on January 13
Texas S 228
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: Senator Brandon Creighton
Issue Brief: Outdoor Sporting Goods Tax Holiday
Summary: Relates to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting supplies for a limited period.
Status: Introduced on January 13
Virginia H 1604
Introduced: 01/08/2015
Sponsor: Delegate Kenneth Plum
Issue Brief: NICS
Summary: Relates to transfer of firearms; relates to a criminal history record information check; adds a definition of firearms show vendor or vendor; requires that a criminal history record information check be performed on the prospective transferee before the vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show; requires that the promoter of a firearms show provide vendors access to licensed dealers who will conduct such checks.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety on January 8
Virginia H 1329
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Delegate Lee Ware
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to out-of-state concealed handgun permits; relates to photo identification; removes certain requirements for an out-of-state concealed handgun permit or license to be recognized and accepted in Virginia and instead requires an out-of-state permit or license holder to carry a government-issued photo identification and present such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer in order for his out-of-state permit or license to be recognized and accepted in Virginia.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 14
Virginia H 1359
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Delegate Jeffrey Campbell
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to concealed handgun permits; relates to lifetime permits; provides for the issuance of concealed handgun permits for Virginia residents that do not expire; provides that currently, such permits must be renewed every five years.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 14
Virginia H 1389
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Delegate Mark Berg
Issue Brief: Guns
Summary: Relates to educational institutions and handguns; relates to direct student financial assistance, release of educational records and prohibition of any rules limiting the carrying of a concealed handgun on licensed educational property by a licensed person.
Status: Introduced on January 14
Virginia H 1390
Introduced: 01/14/2014
Sponsor: Delegate Mark Berg
Issue Brief: Ammunition; Guns
Summary: Relates to regulation of firearms by state entities; prohibits any department, agency, or other entity of the Commonwealth from adopting or enforcing any rule, regulation, or policy regarding firearms or ammunition except as expressly authorized by statute; provides that any rule, regulation, or policy adopted prior to July 1, 2015, without express statutory authority would be invalid.
Status: To House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety on January 14
Virginia S 694
Introduced: 01/14/2015
Sponsor: Senator Dave Marsden
Issue Brief: NICS
Summary: Relates to transfer of firearms; relates to criminal history record information check; relates to penalties; requires that a criminal history record information check be performed on a prospective transferee before a firearms show vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show; defines a firearms show vendor as a person who is not a licensed dealer in Virginia; relates to a person that exhibits, sells, offers for sale, transfers, or exchanges any firearm at a firearms show.
Status: To Senate Committee on Courts of Justice on January 14
Washington H 1000
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake
Issue Brief: Enforcement; General
Summary: Concerns water rights appurtenant to land managed by the department of fish and wildlife.
Status: Public hearing held in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 14
Washington H 1018
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Sherry Appleton
Issue Brief: Dog Tethering
Summary: Prevents breed-based dog regulations.
Status: To House Committee on Judiciary on January 12
Washington H 1032
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amends the fee structure to encourage habitat projects that provide a public benefit; provides for an application fee for a hydraulic project permit or permit modification issued under RCW 77.55.021 where the project is located at or below the ordinary high water line; provides exceptions for fish habitat enhancement projects; provides for public information.
Status: Public hearing held in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 14
Washington H 1033
Introduced: 01/12/2015
Sponsor: Representative Brian Blake
Issue Brief: Access to Private Lands
Summary: Provides tools for the department of fish and wildlife to use in order to promote access to private lands for hunting.
Status: Public hearing held in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 14
Wyoming H 12
Introduced: 01/13/2015
Sponsor: House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee
Issue Brief: Enforcement
Summary: Relates to game and fish; clarifies applicability of act; specifies that restitution penalties for game violations include economic values of wildlife; provides for an effective date.
Status: To House Committee on Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources on January 13
