Harrisburg, Pa. − October 21, 2026 − This week Senator Lindsey M. Williams’ Senate Bill 476 passed the full Senate. This legislation allows the Fish and Boat Commission to modernize their regulations around registration, safety education certificates, and life jackets. This modernization will apply regulations to electric motorized vessels like efoils and jetboards.
“More people are enjoying time on our waters every year, thanks to statewide efforts to restore our waterways and reconnect to our riverfronts,” said Senator Williams. “Modernizing our safety standards will help keep everyone safe as they enjoy Pennsylvania’s endless opportunities for water and river recreation.”
Senate Bill 476 requires that operators of personal watercraft or boats greater than 25 horsepower take an approved boating safety education course. It does not apply to personal watercraft such as motorized kayaks, canoes, or other vessels where the person is sitting or standing within the hull, or boats with motors of 25 horsepower or less.
“Thank you to the members of the General Assembly, specifically Senator Lindsey Williams and Representative Bob Merski, for their championship of this important public safety initiative. This legislation modernizes Pennsylvania’s Personal Watercraft (PWC) definition by removing outdated language that now aligns Pennsylvania with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) regulations to improve boating safety in the Commonwealth,” said Mark Sweppenhiser, Director of the Bureau of Boating for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
The bill moves to the House for consideration.
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