State: FL

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On March 5, legislation that would increase harassment protections for hunters, anglers and trappers passed the Senate (40-0). Sponsored by Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Senator Debbie Mayfield, Senate Bill 1414 would expand the statute prohibiting the harassment of hunters, anglers and trappers by extending protections to sportsmen…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On February 18, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its annual dinner with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) at the Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee. More than 50 people, including roughly two one dozen state legislators and legislative staff, FWCC Commissioners, FWCC and Florida…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On November 25, Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Tommy Gregory pre-filed legislation that would increase harassment protections for sportsmen and women and create a sales tax holiday for hunting and fishing supplies. Specifically, House Bill 777 would augment the statute prohibiting harassment of hunters, anglers and trappers…

By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On February 19, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted an educational and informational event at a local shooting range outside of Tallahassee for legislators and staff. The evening began with a presentation from longtime Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF)  friend Lane Stephens on the background and history of the Caucus,…

By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director The Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus recently announced new leadership in preparation for the upcoming legislative session in Tallahassee. The 2019 Legislative Session commences March 5 and is scheduled to end May 3. Leaders for the bipartisan and bicameral Caucus include: Senator Keith Perry, Representative Jayer Williamson, and Representative Bobby…

The Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus met for its annual Legislative Session Dinner on February 6. Hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and former FWCC member Chuck Roberts, the event was well-attended by Caucus members, along with members of the FWCC commission. The event provided an opportunity for FWCC Commissioners and staff,…

In a recent letter to Congressional leaders, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined 18 other national recreational fishing and boating groups to urge support of increased federal funding for Florida Everglades restoration. The letter urges Congress, during FY 2018 budget deliberations, to support “increased funding levels to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and…

On April 18, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a dinner outside of Tallahassee, Florida.  The event provided an opportunity for FWC Commissioners and staff, executive office staff, and legislators to discuss and gather in support of important hunting, angling, and other conservation issues.  Caucus Co-Chairs,…

On February 10, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) hosted a Caucus dinner in Tallahassee, Florida. The event provided an opportunity for FWCC Commissioner Chuck Roberts and his staff, as well as legislators and representatives from the sportsmen’s community, to gather in support of policies benefitting hunting…

Broad representation of recreational fishing community interests strategize on key management issues Representatives of the recreational fishing community recently gathered together for their second in-person meeting to plan strategies for addressing current and future management challenges of Gulf of Mexico red snapper. The two-day meeting, facilitated by Florida State University’s FCRC Consensus Center, produced constructive…

On July 23, Congressman Curt Clawson (FL) introduced the LEAP Act of 2015, (H.R. 3202) which would ban the importation of 11 lionfish species, including nine species that do not yet inhabit U.S. waters. The legislation comes in response to the rapidly growing lionfish population in Florida’s coastal waters. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along…

Recreational fishing and boating community praises Congressional leaders for addressing flawed marine reserve decision  On the heels of the recent announcement to close over 10,000 acres of Biscayne National Park to fishing, a coalition of recreational fishing and boating organizations praised the introduction of a bipartisan bill, H.R. 3310, that will help stop this and…