Game and Fisheries

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1431 amends state game laws to require Game Commission officers and enforcement personnel to obtain a valid warrant before entering any property, whether posted or not. The bill clarifies that this requirement applies to all land outside of buildings and allows entry without a warrant only when a specific judicial exception applies. These changes directly affect the Pennsylvania Game Commission's staff by limiting their ability to conduct unannounced inspections on private land.

This bill creates a new three-day nonresident hunting license that is valid for the first three days of the regular firearms deer season in Pennsylvania. It sets the cost for this specific license at $30 and adds it to the existing list of hunting and furtaking license options. The law will officially take effect on July 1, 2027, allowing non-residents to purchase this short-term access to hunting privileges.

HB 2554 establishes formal executive leadership roles for both the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission by creating positions for an executive director and a director, respectively. The bill mandates that these leaders be appointed with the Senate's approval and requires a competitive national search process, including a detailed job description and public notice, whenever a vacancy occurs. Additionally, the legislation sets specific qualifications for these roles, such as executive experience and knowledge in areas like budgeting and conservation, while also defining procedures for temporary acting appointments.

This bill updates Pennsylvania hunting laws to require hunters to complete and attach game tags to big game immediately after a kill, before moving the animal. It also clarifies rules for transporting small game without the owner present and ensures that any electronic tagging options offered by the commission must include a free physical tag alternative. The changes aim to standardize how game is reported and moved, with a 60-day delay before the new rules take effect.

HB 2365 updates Pennsylvania's game laws by clarifying definitions, expanding opportunities for young hunters, and adjusting rules for unlicensed individuals participating in hunts. The bill establishes free hunting days for qualified juniors and creates prima facie evidence that allows licensed hunters to assist others who are not yet licensed, provided the unlicensed person stays within sight and does not possess a firearm. Additionally, it repeals an exception that previously allowed children under 12 to trap without a license and tightens requirements to ensure only one active hunting license is held at any time.