HARRISBURG, Pa. — The House Game and Fisheries Committee on Wednesday voted to report House Bill 1418, introduced by Rep. Murski, a measure that would amend Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to update boating safety education requirements for new electric motorized craft and clarify how courses are delivered.

The bill would exempt people operating a motorboat with a motor of 25 horsepower or less that is not a personal watercraft from certain requirements, require the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to issue certificates under section 5104 to individuals who pay required fees and pass a commission-approved boating-safety course, and allow the commission to set rules covering electric personal watercraft such as e-foils and jet boards.

Rep. Murski, the bill sponsor, said the measure is intended to bring the state's rules closer to U.S. Coast Guard standards and to address devices that did not exist a decade ago. "That's why I've introduced House Bill 1418 to modernize the state's boating safety requirements to better align with the U.S. Coast Guard's regulations," Murski told the committee.

The sponsor said the bill also updates language about course distribution to reflect that most courses are now taught online and that the bill does not impose any additional fees for boating-safety education courses.

Rep. Maloney spoke in support and stressed the safety focus, noting technological advances in electric motors. "I just hope they don't think they're gonna get into NASCAR," Maloney said, adding she wants to ensure common small electric trolling motors are not swept up by the changes: she referenced "rowboats with the Minn Kota electric motors that we're all familiar with" as not intended to be affected.

Committee members recorded no negative votes and the committee chair announced the bill would be reported to the next stage.

Discussion: committee debate focused on safety and technology changes, not on adding fees. Direction: none beyond reporting the bill. Formal action: the committee voted with no recorded negatives and the bill was reported out of committee for further consideration.

The committee also noted that course materials and certificate issuance would remain under the Fish and Boat Commission's rulemaking process, and that the bill explicitly aims to accommodate electric personal watercraft and online instruction.

Less critical details: the bill text references section 5103 (boating education) and section 5104 (fees) of Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The committee did not set a final floor date; the measure was reported by the committee.