It’s like déjà vu all over again with a bill in the Kentucky legislature to strip the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (DFWR) of its independence and sweep it under the control of the Department of Agriculture. Two years ago, the Sportsmen’s Alliance, together with our partners at the League of Kentucky Sportsmen, derailed the power grab, but the zombie bill is back for another attempt to undermine sportsmen and the critical work of DFWR.
This year’s version of the power grab is Senate Bill 3 (SB 3). As with the previous attempt, the bill moves DFWR to the Department of Agriculture and gives the Commissioner of Agriculture all nominating power for the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Those who support hunters, anglers and trappers in Kentucky know that the concept of moving fish and wildlife under agriculture is flawed from the get-go and that sportsmen have zero interest in playing politics with the Commonwealth’s fish and wildlife resources.
The entire North American Model of Conservation is based on a belief system regarding resources and their proper management and use. This is much different than how the farming community views those same resources let alone how to effectively manage them and for what purpose.
“This is clearly driven by those who don’t understand, or maybe don’t care, about sportsmen and what we value,” said Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We pushed back hard in 2022, so let’s remind them again how much we oppose this harebrained idea.”
For those not convinced that SB 3 is nothing but a bald face power grab, consider two additional points. One, the bill has an emergency clause, which means that upon passage, the Commissioner of Agriculture could immediately begin packing the fish and game commission with appointments. Immediately. Emergency clauses are typically left for true emergencies, and wanting to grab power is not an emergency, just a political reality.
Point two is that SB 3 is sponsored by a single senator, first elected in 2021. In other words, a junior senator. That’s strange, one senator for a bill that forces a major structural change on how government functions in Kentucky. Moreover, this senator chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee but does NOT serve on the Natural Resources Committee.
“A junior senator as the only sponsor and this bill is included in the first five bills introduced in the senate?” asked Adkins. “I was born at night but not last night. This is a power grab plain and simple and we must make our voices heard and stop it in its tracks.”
Use our Take Action button to email your state Senator urging them to OPPOSE SB 3. Let him know that moving the DFWR is not in the best interest of Kentucky’s sportsmen and fish and wildlife management.
Don’t forget to share this important alert with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen. The Bluegrass State needs all its sportsmen to work together in defending our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage for present and future generations to enjoy.