Month: March, 2020

Day 32 of 37

Friday, March 6, 2020

Legislative Daily Update: Day 32 of 37

SB 150 passed the house on Thursday.

Only a few days left, most of all of our bills have passed or died, we will monitor until the end!

Thank you!

All for the help in fighting the constant onslaught of attempts to change our hunting and fishing heritage here in SD.

HB = House Bill SB = Senate Bill

Location of Bill and scheduled hearing of Bill

Link to actual Bill

House Bills:

SB 124 to revise provisions regarding group pheasant hunts for disabled veterans. SDWF will monitor Passed Senate to House placed on consent http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=124&Session=2020

Senate Bills:

Finalizations:

HB 1059 revise certain provisions regarding hunting with drones. SDWF supports, brings the use of drones into alignment with federal laws. We would like to see the time period when drones cannot be used for hunting predators extended to cover all open big game seasons, but it is not in the bill. Passed House passed Senate to Gov. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1059&Session=2020

HB 1071 revise provisions regarding surface water quality complaints. Passed to 41^st day (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1071&Session=2020

HB 1095 revise requirements regarding hunting mentors SDWF supports; it allows any qualified adult to be a mentor, resident or not. Mentored youth must still be residents. Passed House to Senate Ag, Passed Senate to Gov. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1095&Session=2020

HB 1121 establish immunity from liability for the inherent risks of camping. SDWF is monitoring bill. House Judiciary, Passed to 41^st day. (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1121&Session=2020

HB 1111 revise provisions regarding the qualifications to serve on the Game, Fish and Parks Commission. SDWF monitoring, if passed it would require each Commission candidate to show proof of criteria to serve as a Commissioner. House Ag Tabled by sponsor (DEAD). http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1111&Session=2020

HB 1181 revise certain provisions regarding bounties for coyotes. SDWF is monitoring. The bill allows counties to significantly raise the bounty on coyotes. However, at this point, no GF&P dollars are used, nor are counties using the system now in place. Passed House Passed Senate to Gov. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1181&Session=2020

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners. SDWF strongly opposes this bill.

Passed House Passed Senate yp Gov. for signature http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

HB 1200 establish dates for the mowing of ditches on the state trunk highway system. SDWF is monitoring. House transportation, sent to 41^st day (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1200&Session=2020

HB 1236 revise provisions regarding the management of the animal damage control program. SDWF is monitoring, Pulled by sponsor (Dead). http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1236&Session=2020

HB 1238 permit modification of the term of a perpetual conservation easement after the death of the grantor. SDWF strongly opposes Passed House Ag. To Full House, House failed to pass (DEAD )http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1238&Session=2020

HB 1254 require a habitat stamp for certain hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and jet skiing activities. Tabled by sponsor (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1254&Session=2020

HB 1256 fund shooting sports programs in public schools and to enhance outdoor recreational activities in the state SDWF supports the bill. raise our children. Passed to 41^st day. (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1256&Session=2020

HB 1257 revise certain provisions regarding hunting, fishing, or trapping on private property without permission. SDWF is monitoring. It mandates a higher than normal penalty for one specific Class Two misdemeanor, while leaving the penalty the same for hundreds of others. This bill takes away all judicial discretion based on the facts of each case. Passed House Passed Senate to Gov. thttp://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1257&Session=2020

HCR 6011 Supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. SDWF supports if RAWA is passed on a National level. With matching dollars from GFP RAWA would mean up to $16 Million dollars to the State GFP for non-game species, recovery and habitats on State and Tribal lands here in SD. Tribal funds are separate from the GFP money. Passed House to Passed Senate http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?File=HCR6011P.html&Session=2020&Version=Introduced&Bill=HCR6011

SB 75 provide for a habitat stamp on hunting and fishing licenses. SDWF supports, and has been working on the language of this bill with the sponsor and support the bill in its current form. Hearing; Passed Senate Passed House Ag Gov.’s desk http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=75&Session=2020

SB 79 modify provisions regarding the building of fences across certain unimproved highways SDWF is strongly opposed. Failed to pass Committee. (Dead) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=79&Session=2020

SB 150 an act to revise nonresident waterfowl licensure. SDWF strongly opposes The bill has the potential to increase hunting pressure in South Dakota, making it a lose-lose proposition for the vast majority of waterfowl hunters, resident and nonresident alike. There is no regard to the long term consequences of the privatization and commercialization of wildlife. Resident participation has been in steep decline over the past several years and this legislation has the potential to make those losses worse Passed Senate to Passed House Ag. to full House http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=150&Session=2020

SB 162 provide limitations on the use of lighting equipment while hunting. . SDWF is monitoring. While we supported the bill as originally written, amendments have added back in some of the exceedingly dangerous and/or unethical practices allowed in recent years, although no reports of problems have been reported since it became law 3 years ago. Passed Senate to House Floor on consent to Gov. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=162&Session=2020

How to contact your Legislator:

Go to http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/ContactLegislator.aspx?Session=2020 this will pull up all members of the House and Senate simply click on the Legislator you want your message sent to and create or paste your message.

If you do not know who your Legislator is go to this link:

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Who_Are_My_Legislators/default.aspx?CurrentSession=True

Or call and leave a message with the pages; tell them who message is for, the message, who you are. The page will deliver your phone message to their desk

Senate 773-3821

House 773-3851

Please write your response in your own words. It is fine to use our suggestions, but best if you do not simply just copy our points. Make your message a personal note from you to them. Include a family fishing picture if you have one for effect. As always, be polite and respectful.

Please include your name, number and address on all messages sent to your Legislators.

Thank you for all that you do! Together we can and do make a difference!

Categories: 2020 Legislative Bills

Day 31 of 37

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Legislative Daily Update: Day 31 of 37

HB 1184 passed the Senate today 24 yeas 11 nays it needed 2/3 of the vote to pass, and that is exactly what it had.

SB 150 will be on the House floor on (Wed.) House is at ease right now so not sure when will be heard today or tomorrow?

HCR 6011 passed the Sen.

HB = House Bill SB = Senate Bill

Location of Bill and scheduled hearing of Bill

Link to actual Bill

House Bills:

SB 124 to revise provisions regarding group pheasant hunts for disabled veterans. SDWF will monitor Passed Senate to House http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=124&Session=2020

SB 162 provide limitations on the use of lighting equipment while hunting. . SDWF is monitoring. While we supported the bill as originally written, amendments have added back in some of the exceedingly dangerous and/or unethical practices allowed in recent years, although no reports of problems have been reported since it became law 3 years ago. Passed Senate to House Floor on consent http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=162&Session=2020

Senate Bills:

Finalizations:

HB 1071 revise provisions regarding surface water quality complaints. Passed to 41^st day (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1071&Session=2020

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners. SDWF strongly opposes this bill.

Passed House Passed Senate yp Gov. for signature http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

How to contact your Legislator:

If you do not know who your Legislator is go to this link:

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Who_Are_My_Legislators/default.aspx?CurrentSession=True

Or call and leave a message with the pages; tell them who message is for, the message, who you are. The page will deliver your phone message to their desk

Senate 773-3821

House 773-3851

Please include your name, number and address on all messages sent to your Legislators.

Thank you for all that you do! Together we can and do make a difference!

Categories: 2020 Legislative Bills

Action Needed!

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Need your action

Please email all Sen. and ask them to oppose HB 1184 (reasons below) on the Senate Floor on Wed,

If passed, and in the future we have smaller deer or antelope numbers, our tag numbers are set by herd health, these tags are guaranteed, I ask you whose tags will be cut in numbers and opportunity to get their tag of your choice?

Please email all House Members and ask them to oppose SB 150 on the House Floor on Wed.

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

SDWF strongly opposes this bill. Amendment 1184B did improve it by removing much of the potential for abuse by limiting the tags to landowners owning AND OPERATING 640 acres or more contiguous acres of land. The language concerning leasing was mostly removed, a good step. However, this was a bad bill to begin with, and removing some of the language SDWF objected to does not make it a good bill or a compromise. Nothing in this bill is good for resident sportsmen and women.

· This bill could potentially remove many hundreds or even thousands of deer and antelope tags from the pool of licensees now currently available to average sportsmen, including those that go to resident landowners.

· HB 1184 includes all hunting units across the entire state. The bill would allow nonresident landowners in the West River, East River, Black Hills and any other unit to obtain guaranteed any deer tags and any antelope tags for them and their families. In addition, those landowners will be allowed to obtain free doe licenses.

· The bill does not allow SD GF&P to make reductions in nonresident landowner deer tags if EHD, CWD, adverse weather conditions or other problems impact the herd.

· We have to ask if HB 1184 has the potential to increase land prices, keeping resident landowners from expanding their operations and preventing new farmers and ranchers from starting out? This is a question that should be answered. If true, a side-effect could be to increase current property taxes.

commercialization of wildlife. Resident participation has been in steep decline over the past several years and this legislation has the potential to make those losses worse http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=150&Session=2020

How to contact your Legislator:

If you do not know who your Legislator is go to this link:

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Who_Are_My_Legislators/default.aspx?CurrentSession=True

Or call and leave a message with the pages; tell them who message is for, the message, who you are. The page will deliver your phone message to their desk

Senate 773-3821

House 773-3851

Please include your name, number and address on all messages sent to your Legislators.

Thank you for all that you do! Together we can and do make a difference!

Categories: 2020 Legislative Bills

Day 30 of 37

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Legislative Daily Update: Day 30 of 37

HB 1184 passed Sen. Ag and will be on the Senate Floor tomorrow. (Wed.) Separate action alert sent.

SB 150 will be on the House floor on (Wed.) Separate action alert sent

HCR 6011 passed Sen. Ag and was placed on consent calendar.

HB = House Bill SB = Senate Bill

Location of Bill and scheduled hearing of Bill

Link to actual Bill

House Bills:

SB 162 provide limitations on the use of lighting equipment while hunting. . SDWF is monitoring. While we supported the bill as originally written, amendments have added back in some of the exceedingly dangerous and/or unethical practices allowed in recent years, although no reports of problems have been reported since it became law 3 years ago. Passed Senate to House Floor on consent http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=162&Session=2020

Senate Bills:

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners. SDWF strongly opposes this bill. This bill gives guaranteed any deer and any antelope tags to nonresident landowners and their families STATEWIDE for all seasons and units. While we sympathize with nonresident landowners, our residents must come first. SDWF also encourages nonresidents to become residents of SD to enjoy all the benefits this state has to offer. Deer and antelope are limited natural resources belonging to the residents of South Dakota, so resident should have priority. Other points:

This bill could potentially remove deer and antelope tags from the pool of licensees now currently available, including those that go to resident landowners. The bill does not allow GF&P to reduce the number of tags if EHD, CWD, bad weather or other factors reduce the deer herd. SDWF feels the removal of many hundreds of deer does have a biological impact, especially if the deer herd is stressed. We feel if this passes, the current system of landowner preference for residents must be changed, but there is no political will to do so. Therefore, average sportsmen and women can expect a large reduction in deer hunting tags and opportunities. Passed House to Senate (amended) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

HCR 6011 Supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. SDWF supports if RAWA is passed on a National level. With matching dollars from GFP RAWA would mean up to $16 Million dollars to the State GFP for non-game species, recovery and habitats on State and Tribal lands here in SD. Tribal funds are separate from the GFP money. Passed House to Passed Senate Ag. placed on consent calendar. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?File=HCR6011P.html&Session=2020&Version=Introduced&Bill=HCR6011

Finalizations:

HB 1059 revise certain provisions regarding hunting with drones. SDWF supports, brings the use of drones into alignment with federal laws. We would like to see the time period when drones cannot be used for hunting predators extended to cover all open big game seasons, but it is not in the bill. Passed House to Senate to Gov. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1059&Session=2020

HB 1071 revise provisions regarding surface water quality complaints. Passed to 41^st day (DEAD) http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1071&Session=2020

How to contact your Legislator:

If you do not know who your Legislator is go to this link:

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislators/Who_Are_My_Legislators/default.aspx?CurrentSession=True

Or call and leave a message with the pages; tell them who message is for, the message, who you are. The page will deliver your phone message to their desk

Senate 773-3821

House 773-3851

Please include your name, number and address on all messages sent to your Legislators.

Thank you for all that you do! Together we can and do make a difference!

aCTION nEEDED

Monday, March 2, 2020

Need your action, maybe the last time for this Session!

Please if you have the chance to attend a cracker barrel this weekend please ask all Senators to oppose HB 1184 Landowner tags to Non-resident landowners and to support HCR 6011, RAWA funding at a National level. Please email the Senate Ag. Members listed and ask them to vote NO on 1185 and YES on HCR 6011 Tuesday morning in Senate Ag.

Senate Ag. Members; Blare, Rocky (R); Ewing, Bob (R); Foster, Red Dawn (D); Heinert, Troy (D); Klumb, Joshua (R); Otten, Ernie (R); Soholt, Deb (R); Youngberg, Jordan (R)

Tuesday morning at 745 am in House Ag is SB 150 please email House Ag members and ask them to vote NO on SB 150 Tuesday morning.

HB 1184 provide limited deer and antelope licenses to landowners

http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=1184&Session=2020

· This bill allows nonresident landowners and their families to obtain guaranteed any deer and any antelope tags. Nonresident landowners do not have the right to vote in South Dakota, obtain a South Dakota driver’s license, or have many of the rights and privileges afforded residents. Deer and antelope are limited natural resources belonging to the residents of South Dakota. While we sympathize with nonresident landowners, our residents must come first. SDWF also encourages nonresidents to become residents of SD to enjoy all the benefits this state has to offer.

· The bill does not allow SD GF&P to make reductions in nonresident landowner deer tags if EHD, CWD, adverse weather conditions or other problems impact the herd.

· SDWF feels the removal of many hundreds of deer and antelope will have an adverse biological impact, especially if the herd is stressed.

· Any management for trophy deer and antelope requires safeguards against overharvest of younger males. The bill makes such safeguards extremely difficult at best.

· SDWF feels that if HB 1184 passes, the current system of landowner preference for residents may need to be changed, but there is no political will to do so. Therefore, resident sportsmen and women, especially those who are not landowners, can expect a reduction in deer hunting tags and opportunities.

HCR 6011 Supporting the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. SDWF supports if RAWA is passed on a National level. With matching dollars from GFP RAWA would mean up to $16 Million dollars to the State GFP for non-game species, recovery and habitats on State and Tribal lands here in SD. Tribal funds are separate from the GFP money. http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?File=HCR6011P.html&Session=2020&Version=Introduced&Bill=HCR6011

SB 150 an act to revise nonresident waterfowl licensure. SDWF strongly opposes The bill has the potential to increase hunting pressure in South Dakota, making it a lose-lose proposition for the vast majority of waterfowl hunters, resident and nonresident alike. There is no regard to the long term consequences of the privatization and commercialization of wildlife. Resident participation has been in steep decline over the past several years and this legislation has the potential to make those losses worse http://sdlegislature.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?Bill=150&Session=2020

Categories: 2020 Legislative Bills