Delloso bill to modernize Pa. Fish and Boat Commission signed into law
Rep. David M. Delloso July 16, 2025 | 8:40 AM
RIDLEY PARK, July 16 – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be modernized as a result of legislation signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, announced the measure’s author, state Rep. David M. Delloso, D-Delaware, who said Act 15 of 2025 will improve the commission’s efficiency by streamlining its boating advisory efforts.
The PFBC is an independent Board of Commissioners currently comprised of 10 members appointed by the governor and approved by the legislature. The Boating Advisory Board advises and makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.
Act 15 of 2025 adds the two “boating at-large” Board of Commissioners members to the Boating Advisory Board as ex officio members in place of the PFBC’s executive director and Boating Bureau director, who will continue to work closely with both boards.
All matters relating to boating, including proposed rules and regulations, begin with a review by the Boating Advisory Board. Separately, the two boating at-large members of the Board of Commissioners advise on boating interests for the commonwealth – while they already attended Boating Advisory Board meetings, they now also have voting privileges.
“Updating the Boating Advisory Board’s composition is a commonsense step that the legislature and commissioners agree will eliminate unnecessary duplication and factor more voices with real on-the-water experience into the decision-making process,” said Delloso. “I’m proud to support efforts like this that make state government more responsive and better aligned with our communities’ needs.”
“This legislation gives Pennsylvania’s boating commissioners a stronger voice in shaping the policies that impact our waterways and recreational communities,” said Delaware County Councilmember Elaine Paul Schaefer. “By aligning advisory input more closely with boating expertise, this change not only improves efficiency—it affirms what I’ve seen throughout my career: that efforts to expand outdoor recreation often advance environmental stewardship as well. We’re grateful to Representative Delloso for championing this thoughtful reform.”