NASC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT INTRODUCES SEVERAL CSF PRIORITIES IN ARKANSAS

ARTICLE CONTACT: KENT KEENE

Why It Matters: Though the sporting-conservation community often finds itself in a defensive position, there are opportunities to advance proactive measures to protect and advance our outdoor pursuits. In Arkansas, these opportunities have recently taken shape in the form of a resolution to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the Dingell-Johnson Act, and bills that would reimburse the state fish and wildlife agency for future license discounts and grant resident license pricing to exchange students attending school in the Natural State.

Highlights:

• NASC Executive Council President and Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Jeff Wardlaw has been hard at work introducing legislation to advance sportsmen priorities in the Natural State.
• This session, Representative Wardlaw has introduced Arkansas House Bill 1631 (resident license rates for foreign exchange students), House Bill 1632 (reimbursements for discounted licenses), House Resolution 1045 (celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the Dingell-Johnson Act), and more.
• These efforts highlight some of the proactive opportunities available to pro-sportsmen legislators, particularly in states that are already incredibly supportive of the sportsmen’s community.

While the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) efforts during legislative sessions in many states are dominated by the need to protect against anti-sportsmen legislation, CSF has been working hard to flip the script and go on the offensive. Working closely with key partners and engaged elected officials, including those who serve on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council, CSF has developed an assortment of pro-sportsmen language designed to protect and advance our shared outdoor interests. In Arkansas, NASC Executive Council President and Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Jeff Wardlaw has been leading the charge to implement many of these priorities during the Natural State’s 2025 legislative session.

Last month, Representative Wardlaw introduced House Resolution 1045 which celebrates the 75^th Anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, better known as the Dingell-Johnson Act. This resolution is designed to commemorate the achievement of the Dingell-Johnson Act’s passage by Congress in 1950, as well as the investments in fisheries conservation efforts that have resulted from its adoption. HR 1045 was passed out of committee in the Arkansas House of Representatives and awaits further action on the House floor.

Earlier this month, Representative Wardlaw followed up with House Bills 1631 and 1632. HB 1631 would allow foreign exchange students attending school in Arkansas to apply for hunting and fishing licenses at the same rates paid by Arkansas residents. This incredible recruitment tool builds on existing allowances for non-resident, full-time college students to hunt and fish at resident license rates. HB 1632 would reimburse the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for any revenue lost as a result of any new hunting or fishing license discounts created by the Arkansas Legislature. In recent years, legislators across the country have sought opportunities to reward deserving groups with free or discounted licenses. HB 1632 would allow that to take place in Arkansas without worrying about the unintended consequences for conservation funding that would result from the lost license revenue. In support of HB 1632, CSF shared a letter of support with members of the Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. HB 1631 and 1632 both await further action in the House’s State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.

CSF-PRIORITY FORESTLAND CONSERVATION LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN SENATE

ARTICLE CONTACT: JOHN CULCLASURE

Why It Matters:  Private working forests provide a wide range of benefits to the public including providing habitat for fish and wildlife, open space, and access for sportsmen and women, and more, and the Forest Conservation Easement Program would offer landowners additional options to conserve their forestland. Preventing the conversion of working forests to other land uses is critical to conserving wildlife, supporting the forest industry, and passing on our outdoor sporting traditions to the next generation.

Highlights:

• Creating the Forest Conservation Easement Program is a top priority for the sportsmen’s community, forest industry, and other conservation organizations.
• The legislation fills a gap in federal conservation programs for forests by allowing state and local governments, tribal agencies, and land trusts to purchase and hold conservation easements from landowners.
• Voluntary conservation agreements are proven tools for land conservation that are tailored to meet the goals of the landowner to conserve their land, including actively managing their forests, in perpetuity or for a set term of years.

On March 13, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Roger Wicker introduced the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2025 (S. 1050). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports this legislation, alongside a broad coalition of other conservation organizations. In the 118^th Congress, the FCEP Act of 2023 (S. 2631/H.R. 3424) had strong bipartisan support, and CSC Member and Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Representative G.T. Thompson included FCEP in the Farm Bill.

Specifically, FCEP would expand the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP), renaming it the Forest Conservation Easement Program in the Farm Bill’s conservation title. FCEP offers two options for forestland conservation: Forest Land Easements, which are modeled after the Agricultural Land Easements under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Forest Reserve Easements, which are modeled after and are the successor to HFRP. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), land trusts and state, local, and tribal agencies are eligible to purchase and hold conservation easements on working forests. Forest Reserve Easements are purchased directly from landowners, and NRCS will hold the easements.

CSF is thankful for the leadership of Senators Gillibrand and Wicker on this pressing issue for the conservation community. FCEP is critical to keep working forests as forests and thereby provide habitat for fish and wildlife and access for hunters and anglers. CSF looks forward to continuing to support the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act with the goal of including it in the Farm Bill.

A BETTER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK – 2ND AMENDMENT SALES TAX HOLIDAY LEGISLATION MOVING IN GEORGIA AND ALABAMA

ARTICLE CONTACT: CONNER BARKER

Why It Matters: Whether they are aware of it or not, sportsmen and women support the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding through the purchase of firearms, ammunition, and other related outdoor sporting goods. Manufacturer-level excise taxes collected on these products are funneled directly back into conservation. 2^nd Amendment sales tax holidays reduce costs for sportsmen and women, ultimately encouraging sales, and spurring conservation funding.  

Highlights:

• In January, Georgia Senate Bill 47 was introduced by Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Senator Jason Anavitarte and co-sponsored by a number of other Caucus members and would create an 11-day sales tax exemption to occur annually beginning the second Friday of October, during which firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories including, but not limited to, stocks, barrels, scopes, and magazines, are exempt from state sales and use tax.
• In February, Alabama House Bill 277 was introduced by Representative Ernie Yarbrough and co-sponsored by several Alabama Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus members and would create a 2^nd Amendment Sales Tax Holiday to occur annually from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, during which the gross proceeds from the sale of ammunition, firearms, and hunting supplies are exempt from state sales and use tax.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) provided testimony in support of both the Georgia and Alabama.

Each year, sportsmen and women spend millions of their hard-earned dollars purchasing the necessary equipment to tackle their ventures in the field. Whether that be firearms, ammunition, or associated products. Not only do these sportsmen and women stimulate their local economies, but they also make up the backbone of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) which, in turn, funds critical conservation work across the nation.

The passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act) set up a system where manufacturer-level excise taxes collected from sporting goods are funneled directly back into conservation. These critical excise tax dollars fund a variety of conservation work including fish and wildlife research, habitat management, hunter education, shooting range development, and land acquisition and easements.

Many sportsmen and women would love to spend their hard-earned money on nothing other than new sporting good equipment, including firearms and ammunition. 2^nd Amendment or Outdoor Sporting Good Tax Holidays, like those currently proposed in Georgia and Alabama, give sportsmen and women a window of opportunity each year to purchase outdoor sporting good equipment, including firearms and ammunition, tax free while simultaneously benefitting conservation programs. The Pittman Robertson Act generated over $64 million combined between Georgia and Alabama for conservation efforts last year alone.

Currently, Georgia Senate Bill 47 has passed the Senate and awaits further consideration from the House Ways and Means Committee. Alabama House Bill 277 has been assigned to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education where it also awaits further consideration. If enacted, Georgia and Alabama would join other southern states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina that have previously established similar sales tax holidays for firearms, ammunition, and other outdoor sporting goods.

CSF looks forward to working with the legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in Georgia and Alabama as well as our partners to support these important initiatives and see them to them to the finish line.

CSF HOSTS POLICY BRIEFING ON CAPITOL HILL WITH KEY PARTNERS TO CONVEY PRIORITIES

ARTICLE CONTACT: HANNAH STUBBLEFIELD

Why It Matters: The American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) is a consortium of 52 of the nation’s leading hunting and wildlife conservation professionals, among other entities, that work to build unity and consensus around the most pressing issues facing sportsmen and women and wildlife. Every four years, AWCP develops a collective set our federal priorities known as Wildlife for the 21^st Century (W-21), which is a blueprint for the conservation and access priorities of AWCP for the next two Congresses and new Administration.

Highlights:

• Last week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and some of our key partners hosted a policy briefing on Capitol Hill to speak to the American Wildlife Conservation Partners’ Wildlife for the 21^st Century, the blueprint to the partnership’s priorities for the next four years for Congress and the Administration.
• CSF’s Director, Federal Relations Taylor Schmitz served as the 2024 Chair of the American Wildlife Conservation, a role that positioned him to oversee the development of W-21 and work with the 52-organization consortium to develop consensus around a set of priorities.

On Tuesday, March 25, CSF and some of our key partners – the Boone and Crocket Club, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Wildlife Mississippi – hosted a policy briefing on Capitol Hill to convey our federal priorities for hunters, recreational shooters, and wildlife for the next four years.

The briefing provided an opportunity for key Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and representatives from federal agencies to hear from experts from various organizations as they highlighted key policy recommendations to advance the interests of sportsmen and women, enhance the conservation of our nation’s lands and waters, and bolster wildlife populations across the country. During the briefing, partners spoke to the priorities related to public access to public lands, wildlife migration and habitat connectivity, active management of federal public and private lands, and various private lands programs that are made available through the Farm Bill.

CSF thanks our partners for supporting this briefing and for their continued collaboration in advancing the priorities of sportsmen and women to enhance conservation, improve access, and to bolster our outdoor heritage.

TWO ADDITIONAL POLICY WINS NOTCHED IN SOUTH DAKOTA AS SESSION ADJOURNS

ARTICLE CONTACT: JAKE GOULD

Why It Matters: The South Dakota legislative session saw its fair share of sportsmen-related legislation. Fortunately, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), working with partners and the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, was able to defeat bills that could have led to a transfer of funds from the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks and a discharge distance bill that was introduced during the session. The South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus was also significantly strengthened this year.

Highlights:

• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was active in the Mount Rushmore State working with the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP).
• South Dakota House Bill 1236 (HB 1236), which would have increased the discharge distance in South Dakota from 660 feet to one-quarter mile, or 1320 feet, was ultimately defeated with support from the hunting community.
• Similarly defeated was South Dakota Senate Bill 153 (SB 153) which would have made all land purchases for parks and required all park improvements to be made with the funds from the Division of Wildlife budget.

On March 13, the South Dakota Legislative Session came to a close, with the Governor’s Veto Day quickly approaching. South Dakota has one of the fastest legislative sessions, only lasting a total of 38 working days. Even with a short session, there was no shortage of sportsmen-related legislation, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation worked closely with many partners, as well as the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to defeat several pieces of legislation that would have threatened conservation funding and opportunities for sportsmen and women.

First, House Bill 1236, legislation that would have increased the size of the safety zone where hunters are not legally allowed to hunt, was defeated in the Senate. The current safety zone does not allow hunting within 660 feet of an occupied dwelling, church, school, or live stick without written permission. HB 1236, due to what was misleadingly framed as safety concerns, would have doubled the size of the safety zone to one-quarter mile, or 1320 feet. This increase in discharge distance would have significantly limited hunting access and would have likewise curtailed the GFP from relying on firearm hunters to assist with management objectives in suburban and exurban areas.  Fortunately, this bill failed to pass the Senate and was defeated.

Also defeated was Senate Bill 153, which would have required the use of Division of Wildlife’s budget for all land purchases for parks and required all park improvements, ultimately resulting in a diversion of sportsmen-generated fund of funds. Under federal law, any diversion of hunting or fishing license revenue away from its required use would make a state ineligible to receive federal Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration apportionments, meaning additional losses for conservation funding. Fortunately, SB 153 was tabled in committee after strong opposition from the sporting-conservation community.

Aside from legislation, there were also significant advancements for the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus following the 2024 election cycle. The Caucus now has full bipartisan leadership with Representatives Jessica Bahmuller and Kadyn Wittman and Senators Taffy Howard and Liz Larson. The Co-Chairs have been active in promoting the Caucus and encouraging members of the legislature to join the Caucus. Through their efforts, they have doubled the size of the Caucus and helped secure the aforementioned victories for sportsmen and women in South Dakota.

CSF-PRIORITY LEGISLATION FIX OUR FORESTS ACT INTRODUCED IN SENATE

ARTICLE CONTACT: JOHN CULCLASURE

Why It Matters: As wildfires continue to destroy communities and degrade forests and wildlife habitat, comprehensive forest management legislation to accelerate forest restoration is needed to improve the health of the 117-million acres of fire-prone federal lands. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act would be the first significant stand-alone forest management bill passed since 2003. 

Highlights: 

• The Fix Our Forests Act would reform forest management policies to mitigate against severe wildfires by emphasizing science-based forest management practices to improve forest health and wildlife habitat.
• The legislation would enact several longstanding priorities for the sportsmen’s community, notably litigation reform and clarifying consultation requirements for federal land management agencies to remedy the 2015 Cottonwood decision that has hindered forest restoration projects with time-consuming process hurdles that provide no conservation benefit.
• In 2024, wildfires burned almost 9 million acres across the country, negatively impacting communities, forests, fish and wildlife habitat, and sportsmen’s access.

On April 10, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Senators John Curtis, John Hickenlooper, Alex Padilla, and Tim Sheehy introduced the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports the legislation. The House version of the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), also supported by CSF and led by CSC Co-Chair Representative Bruce Westerman, passed the House on a strong bipartisan 279-141 vote in January.

While the House and Senate versions differ in some respects, the bills are largely similar and aim to improve forest management policies to reduce severe wildfire risk and increase forest resiliency. Key provisions include the designation of fireshed management areas where active management projects would be prioritized through expedited authorities, increased acreage limitations on several categorical exclusions to treat hazardous fuels efficiently and at scale, litigation reform, and a Cottonwood fix. To reduce fuel loads with partner support, the legislation also expands collaborative tools, including, among others, the Good Neighbor Authority, stewardship contracting, and the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership program, and ensures that cross-boundary prescribed fire projects are prioritized.

CSF is thankful for the leadership of Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Padilla, and Sheehy on this pressing issue for sportsmen and women and communities in the wildland-urban interface. The Fix Our Forests Act is critical to conserving fish and wildlife habitat and supporting the sporting traditions of the millions of hunters and anglers that recreate on federal public lands. CSF looks forward to working with the House and Senate to pass comprehensive federal forest management reform legislation this Congress.

CSF SUPPORTS FOREST RESTORATION IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SUE THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE… AGAIN

ARTICLE CONTACT: JOHN CULCLASURE

Why It Matters: The wildfires in Western North Carolina, worsened by debris from Hurricane Helene, reinforce the need to actively manage forests to reduce fuel loads and improve forest resiliency. Litigation to spur a forest plan amendment is a continuation of coordinated efforts to stop forest restoration and wildlife habitat improvement work on the two National Forests that comprise more than half of the public hunting land in North Carolina.

Highlights:

• Litigation to vacate the recently revised land management plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest distracts the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from addressing the pressing resource needs across the 1.1 million acres of public forests that are interspersed with state lands, other federal lands, and private lands. North Carolina is the number one state in the country for acres in the Wildland Urban Interface.
• Maintaining management flexibility, not adding more restrictions that prevent active forest management through a plan amendment, to improve forest health and reduce wildfire threat for communities is paramount.
• While Hurricane Helene will create early successional habitats important for a wide range of species, forest succession is continual, and forests require management to support the diverse habitat needs of wildlife. The impacts from Hurricane Helene do not obviate the need for ongoing active forest management to support wildlife and access for sportsmen and women.

On April 9, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and other sporting conservation organizations wrote to the USFS  to express support for actively stewarding forest resources to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest resilience on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests after Hurricane Helene. The letter also discouraged the USFS from amending the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest Land Management Plan (forest plan) which was finalized after a ten-year revision process.

On March 27, groups sued the USFS to vacate the forest plan. Some of the same groups previously filed an objection to the forest plan in March 2022 and then several of the same groups sued the USFS over the forest plan in April 2024. Then, last week, litigation was threatened against the USFS over the Administration’s policies to increase timber production to reduce wildfire risk.

In the most recent lawsuit, plaintiffs requested “costs, fees, and expenses, including attorney’s fees.” This is consistent with lawsuits filed by some of the same groups to have federal dollars awarded via the Equal Access to Justice Act. CSF supports the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which includes litigation reform, and which is, not surprisingly, opposed by several of the same groups that filed the lawsuit.

The forest plan was developed with robust public input, and the USFS’s priority should be to address the wildfire threat exacerbated by Hurricane Helene. It is not in the best interest of the communities in Western North Carolina, let alone taxpayer dollars, to get bogged down in more years of planning that consume limited agency resources. Fuel loads need to be reduced through vegetation treatments and salvage projects. Roads, critical for management and fire breaks, need to be repaired. Bridges, trails, and other infrastructure that the public depends on for access need to be rebuilt, on top of the other forest restoration and wildlife habitat needs that existed before Hurricane Helene.

CSF appreciates the USFS’s dedication to supporting Western North Carolina getting back on its feet and commends the USFS for prioritizing forest restoration work to increase forest resiliency, mitigate wildfire risk, and improve wildlife habitat.

States Involved: NC