The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 159 Increases Penalties for Negligent or Intentional Importation of Nonnative Injurious Fish and Wildlife
Last action · March 24, 2025: Laid on the table, March 24, 2025Sponsors: Abby Major and 14 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Pennsylvania House Bill 159 raises the penalty to a for anyone who negligently or intentionally violates restrictions on transporting, selling, importing, or releasing nonnative injurious fish or endangered or wildlife species. Under the measure, standard violations generally remain misdemeanors of the third degree for fish or summary offenses for general wildlife, while taking effect in 60 days.
Importers, sellers, and handlers of nonnative fish or protected wildlife face harsher criminal charges and higher misdemeanor classifications if violations are found to be negligent or intentional.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
importers of game or wildlife
Importers face elevated misdemeanor charges of the first degree if wildlife or fish importation rules are violated negligently or intentionally.
sellers of game or wildlife
Sellers are subject to increased criminal penalties depending on the species involved and the intentional or negligent nature of the violation.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if someone accidentally imports a nonnative injurious fish?
Are endangered species treated differently under the bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Tabled in the House.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 24, 2025HouseLaid on the table, March 24, 2025
- Mar 24, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst consideration, March 24, 2025
- Mar 24, 2025HouseCommitteeReported as committed, March 24, 2025
- Jan 16, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to GAME AND FISHERIES, Jan. 16, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 10 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools