HB 159 — An Act amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in protection of property and waters, further providing for restrictions on transport, sale, importation or release of nonnative injurious fish; and, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for unlawful importation of game or wildlife.

PRINTER'S NO.   117

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 159
                                                    Session of
                                                      2025

     INTRODUCED BY MAJOR, HOHENSTEIN, STENDER, SMITH, HANBIDGE, KHAN,
        MALAGARI, KENYATTA, BRENNAN, HOWARD, JAMES, DALEY AND
        SHUSTERMAN, JANUARY 16, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, JANUARY 16, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending Titles 30 (Fish) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in protection of property and waters,
 3      further providing for restrictions on transport, sale,
 4      importation or release of nonnative injurious fish; and, in
 5      game or wildlife protection, further providing for unlawful
 6      importation of game or wildlife.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.      Section 2508(c) of Title 30 of the Pennsylvania
10   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
11   § 2508.    Restrictions on transport, sale, importation or release
12                   of nonnative injurious fish.
13      * * *
14      (c)    Penalty.--[Any]
15             (1)   Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), a
16      person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the
17      third degree.
18             (2)   A person who negligently or intentionally violates
19      this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.
 1      Section 2.     Section 2163(c) of Title 34 is amended to read:
 2   § 2163.    Unlawful importation of game or wildlife.
 3      * * *
 4      (c)    Penalties.--
 5             (1)   Except for endangered or threatened species, a
 6      person importing, selling, releasing or possessing game or
 7      wildlife or the eggs of any bird contrary to any of the
 8      provisions of this section, or causing them to be released or
 9      imported, commits a summary offense of the fifth degree. Each
10      bird, egg or animal involved in a violation constitutes a
11      separate offense.
12             (2)   [A] Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), a
13      violation of this section relating to any endangered or
14      threatened species is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
15      Each bird, egg or game or wildlife involved in the violation
16      constitutes a separate offense.
17             (3)   A negligent or intentional violation of this section
18      relating to any endangered or threatened species is a
19      misdemeanor of the first degree.
20      * * *
21      Section 3.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB0159PN0117                     - 2 -