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, recreational fishing and 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.
Due to many states wrapping up their legislative sessions, beginning on June 24, Tracking The Capitols will now be distributed on a bi-weekly basis.
Connecticut S 1020
Intro Date: 02/28/13
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Environment
Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Concerns the interstate wildlife violator compact; enacts the Wildlife Violator Compact and repeal the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Compact that is no longer required.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 11. Public Act No. 13-248 [Effective Rule].
Delaware S 117
Intro Date: 06/06/2013
Sponsor: Senator David McBride
Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) is a nationwide law enforcement network aimed at preventing lawbreakers who have lost their hunting, fishing, and/or trapping privileges in one state due to egregious crimes, such as poaching against wildlife or fisheries resources, from carrying out those activities in other states.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 15. Chapter Number 113 [Effective Rule].
Intro Date: 04/11/2013
Sponsor: Senator Catharine Young
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Allows the use of rifles for deer hunting in the county of Chautauqua; makes deer hunting in the county of Chautauqua permanent.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 12. Chapter No. 155 [Effective Rule].
New York A 5832
Intro Date: 03/07/2013
Sponsor: Assemblymember David DiPietro
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Amending the environmental conservation law; relates to allowing the use of rifles for hunting in Wyoming county permanent.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 12. Chapter No. 111 [Effective Rule].
New York A 7101
Intro Date: 05/01/2013
Sponsor: Assemblymember Addie Russell, 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; and provides the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 12. Chapter No. 121 [Effective Rule]
North Carolina S 402
Intro Date: 03/26/2013
Sponsor: Senator Peter Brunstetter
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Makes base budget appropriations for current operations of state departments, institutions, and agencies, and for other purposes.
Status: Ratified for presentation on July 25.
North Carolina H 296
Intro Date: 03/14/2013
Sponsor: Representative John Bell, Co-Chair, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Hunter Education Apprentice Permit
Summary: To (1) adjust the fees charged for certain hunting and fishing licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission and repeal The County hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and the noncommercial special device licenses; (2) establish a black bear management stamp that must be procured before taking bear within the state and amend the law restricting the taking of black bear with bait; (3) adjust the age for discounted special licenses from age sixty-five to age seventy.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 18. Session Law Number 2013-283 [Effective Rule]
North Carolina H 936
Intro Date: 04/15/2013
Sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, Co-Chair, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: General
Summary: Establishes a wildlife poacher reward fund to pay rewards to persons who give information to law enforcement authorities that results in the arrest and conviction of persons who commit serious wildlife violations and to authorize the use of compensation paid to the Wildlife Resources Commission as conditions of offenders’ probation as assets of the fund.
Status: To Governor on July 24.
Ohio H 234
Intro Date: 07/17/2013
Sponsor: Representative Cheryl Grossman, Member, Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Sound Suppressors
Summary: Allows a person to use a noise suppressor attached to a gun while hunting game birds or wild quadrupeds.
Status: To House Committee on Rules and Reference on July 17.
Oregon H 2023
Intro Date: 01/14/2013
Sponsor: Representative Brian Clem
Issue Brief: Hunting Access
Summary: Requires state agency to notify State Department of Fish and Wildlife before state agency restricts or closes access to state lands used for hunting; provides exceptions; requires department to post notice for 30 days on department’s website before state agency may restrict or close access to state lands used for hunting.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Oregon H 2251
Intro Date:01/14/2013
Sponsor: Office of the Governor
Issue Brief: Access to Private Lands
Summary: Removes sunset on program that provides landowner preference tags to address damage caused by elk on privately owned land in southwest Oregon.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Oregon HJR 16
Intro Date: 01/14/13
Sponsor: Representatives Brian L. Clem, Sal Esquivel, Member, NASC Executive Council, Wayne Krieger, Member, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Brian Witt, Co-Chair, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
Issue Brief: Right to Hunt/Fish
Summary: Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution establishing right to hunt, to fish, to trap and to harvest wildlife; refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Intro Date: 01/14/2013
Sponsor: Office of the Governor
Issue Brief: Access to Private Lands
Summary: Extends sunset on landowner preference tags program.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Intro Date: 03/04/2013
Sponsor: Representative Sal Esquivel, Co-Chair, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Member, NASC Executive Council
Issue Brief: Access to Private Lands
Summary: Requires certain qualifications for appointment as member of State Fish and Wildlife Commission; declares emergency, effective on passage.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Intro Date: 01/14/2013
Sponsor: Representative Sherrie Sprenger, Member, Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Representative Brian Clem
Issue Brief: Hunting Dogs
Summary: Provides that county is exempt from applicability of statute banning use of dogs to hunt black bears or cougars and use of bait to hunt black bears if voters approve county measure proposed by initiative petition or referred to people by governing body of county.
Status: In committee upon adjournment on July 8.
Intro Date: 04/04/2013
Sponsor: Senator Catherine Cool Rumsey
Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators
Summary: Would adopt the wildlife violation compact act which recognizes violations of hunting, trapping and fishing laws occurring in other states as violations in a person’s home state. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 16.
Intro Date: 03/28/2013
Sponsor: Representative Patricia Serpa
Issue Brief: Wildlife Violators Compact
Summary: Would adopt the wildlife violation compact act which recognizes violations of hunting, trapping and fishing laws occurring in other states as violations in a person’s home state. This act would take effect upon passage.
Status: Signed by Governor on July 16.
