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Kentucky Hunters and Anglers Unite to Defeat SB3
It’s been a long time since Kentucky Hunters and Fishermen have been this united in the legislature. What brought about the unity of sportsmen across the state? Senate Bill 3.
The bill proposed to attach the Kentucky Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which is currently part of the tourism cabinet, to the Department of Agriculture. Opponents argued that the bill, which was submitted on the last day for filing bills in the Kentucky Senate, lacked transparency from the start and was filed late to allow stakeholders less time to organize and respond. Legislative affairs committee chairman for the Kentuckiana Chapter of Safari Club International Larry Richards criticized the attempt. “Sportsmen’s groups were not contacted at all before the bill was filed,” he said. “The political outcome of this bill would be the immediate overhaul of this commission favoring agriculture interests.”
The main concern from Kentucky sportsmen is that the Department of Agriculture would have absorbed the Fish and Wildlife Department causing an intrusion of agricultural priorities into wildlife management. “This mix is oil and water, folks,” Richards said.
The opposition was so united that there were no sportsmen’s groups that supported the bill. Among those groups was the Kentucky Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Kentucky BHA extends its thanks to everyone that stood up and made their voices heard in Frankfort this session, especially the representatives from Kentuckiana Safari Club, the League of Kentucky Sportsman, and the Congressional Sportsmans Foundation.”
If passed, Kentucky would have been the first state in the US to place fish and wildlife management under its Department of Agriculture. Also, it would have given all Wildlife Commissioner appointments to its Commissioner of Agriculture.
With the bill failing to pass the House of Representatives by March 28 it is considered dead with the caveat that it doesn’t get passed when the House of Representatives reconvenes in mid-April. Even if that were to happen it’s understood that the General Assembly would not have time to override an almost certain veto from Governor Beshear.
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