In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to create the Fish PA license plate.
Pennsylvania has a rich history of fishing and conservation, yet we do not currently have a license plate to honor that history. To that end, my legislation seeks to create the Fish PA license plate to acknowledge Pennsylvania’s fishing heritage.

Fishing is a wonderful opportunity for the youth in Pennsylvania to learn, explore, and engage with wildlife and recreation, and fishing is how many first gain their love for the outdoors. In order to recognize the benefits of fishing and conservation to our youth, my legislation would require PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to offer a design contest for students in kindergarten through fifth grade across Pennsylvania to offer a winning design for the Fish PA license plate. The design of the overall plate must be based on the winning design, must include the phrase “Fish PA” and must feature the depiction of a Brook Trout, which is Pennsylvania’s state fish. This is a unique way to offer community engagement for students across Pennsylvania, and increase youth involvement in fishing and conservation.

Furthermore, a portion of the funds collected from the Fish PA license plate will be used for the Trout in the Classroom program, which is currently offered by the PFBC. This program introduces students to watershed conservation efforts, ecosystems, habitats, natural resources, management strategies, and recreational opportunities. In this program, students raise trout in their classrooms throughout the year and then release their trout into a stocked trout waterway in a state-approved stream near their school, or within a nearby watershed. By allocating a portion of the funds from the Fish PA license plate to the Trout in the Classroom program, we can ensure continued youth involvement in watershed conservation and recreational fishing opportunities, while offering increased engagement in the program across Pennsylvania.

I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to recognize the importance of fishing and conservation in Pennsylvania.