Since 2013 there have been a variety of measures taken to reduce the amount of illegally-acquired ivory and rhino horn entering the United States and to prohibit wildlife parts from protected species from being sold if they don’t have proper provenance. There is currently another round of legislation being introduced in a number of state legislatures that supports some of these restrictions. If you live in the European Union you can consider supporting a ban on ivory exports from the EU.

In some cases restrictions are very broad and you might have also heard about restrictions placed on the sale of ivory-inlayed instruments, firearms, and knives (handles). If you don’t want that kind of thing in your state’s legislation then please, by all means, make your voice heard. Hopefully everyone’s goal is to support sensible legislation that would penalize and deter smuggling, sales of poached ivory or rhino horn, and to show that the United States, once one of the largest ivory consumers in the world, does not need to import products from illegally killed wildlife to meet consumer demand.

Please consider contacting your state congress people and voicing your opinion on whether the legislation should be support or the changes you would like made. If you don’t know how to contact your state’s legislators you can use this link or see the list below.

If you live in a state that is considering legislation (Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, D.C.) or not taking action (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) please consider contacting your state lawmakers and suggest that they propose or support similar legislation that would reduce illegal ivory and rhino horn entering the United States.

U.S. Ivory Ban FAQ

Active Legislation

Arkansas

Legislation: SB928 (PDF) sponsored by David Johnson.

Status: SB928

Contact your Arkansas State Senators.


California

Legislation: AB 96 (PDF version) sponsored by Toni Atkins.

Contact your California State Assembly Members


Connecticut

Legislation: H.B. 6955 introduced by Environment Committee, co-sponsored by Rep. Philip J. Miller and Sen. Carlo Leone.

Status: H.B. 6955

Contact your Connecticut State Legislators: Representatives, Senators, or use the search


Florida

Legislation: SB 1120 sponsored by Thad Altman.

Status: SB 1120

Contact your Florida State Senators.


Illinois

Legislation: SB1858 sponsored by Senators Linda Holmes, Melinda Bush, Julie A. Morrison, and Ira I. Silverstein.

Status: SB1858

Contact your Illinois State Senators, Representatives, or use the search.


Massachusetts

Legislation: H1275 (House docket #1935) sponsored by Lori A. Ehrlich and Jason M. Lewis.

Status: H1275

Contact your Massachusetts State Representatives.


New York

Legislation: Bill S4686-2015 sponsored by State Senator Tony Avella.

Contact your New York State Senators


Nevada

Legislation: SB398 sponsored by Senators Denis, Manendo, Parks, and Kihuen.

Status: SB398

Contact your Nevada State Senators.


Oregon

Legislation: S.B. 913 sponsored by Judiciary.

Status: S.B. 913

Contact your Oregon State Senators.


Rhode Island

Legislation: sponsored by Handy, Palangio, Serpa, and Fogarty.

Contact your Rhode Island State Representatives.


Vermont

Legislation: H.297 (H-0297) sponsored by State Representatives Kurt Wright, Joan G. Lenes, et. al.

Contact your Vermont State Representatives.


Stalled Legislation

Hawaii

Legislation: SB674 introduced by Espero, Keith-Agaran, Kahele, Nishihara.

Status: SB674

Contact your Hawaii State Representatives.


Iowa

Legislation: SF 30 sponsored by McCoy.

Status: SF 30

Contact your Iowa State Senators.


Maryland

Legislation: H.B. 713 (PDF) sponsored by Luedtke, et. al.

Status: H.B. 713

Contact your Maryland State Representatives.


Oklahoma

Legislation: H.B. 1787 (PDF) introduced by Mike Shelton.

Status: H.B. 1787

Contact your Oklahoma State Representatives.


Virginia

Legislation: SB 1215 sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin, et. al.

Status: SB 1215

Contact your Virginia State Senators.


Washington State

Legislation: H.B. 1131/S.B. 5241 (PDF) sponsored by Reps. Pettigrew, Buys, and Fitzgibbon; and Senators Litzow, Fain, Rolfes, and Pedersen.

Status: H.B. 1131/S.B. 5241

Contact your Washington State Senators, Representatives, or find your legislators.