summary
Introduced
02/26/2025
02/26/2025
In Committee
04/29/2025
04/29/2025
Crossed Over
04/28/2025
04/28/2025
Passed
05/19/2025
05/19/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/20/2025
05/20/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to vessels; amending s. 327.45, F.S.; specifying that the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s authorization to establish protection zones includes modifying the allowable means of certain vessel positioning to prevent significant harm to certain springs; revising what constitutes significant harm; amending s. 327.56, F.S.; prohibiting an officer from performing a vessel stop or boarding a vessel without probable cause; prohibiting an officer from performing a vessel stop or boarding a vessel under certain circumstances; providing that a violation of safety or marine sanitation equipment requirements is a secondary rather than a primary offense; amending s. 327.70, F.S.; requiring the commission, in coordination with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to create the “Florida Freedom Boater” safety inspection decal for specified purposes; providing for the award of such decal; providing requirements for such decal; authorizing an officer to stop a vessel for a lawful purpose when the officer has probable cause or knowledge to believe a violation of certain provisions has occurred or is occurring; creating s. 327.75, F.S.; providing a short title; defining the terms “energy source” and “watercraft”; prohibiting specified entities from restricting the use or sale of watercraft based on the energy source used by such watercraft; amending s. 379.226, F.S.; revising provisions prohibiting the issuance of a license to a vessel owned by certain alien powers; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to Florida's vessel and boating regulations across multiple areas of law. First, it expands the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's authority to establish protection zones for springs by allowing them to modify vessel positioning methods to prevent significant harm, with "significant harm" now more specifically defined as negative impacts where vessel operations are the predominant cause. The bill also restricts law enforcement from stopping or boarding vessels without probable cause, making safety equipment violations a secondary offense rather than a primary one. Additionally, the bill introduces a new "Florida Freedom Boater" safety inspection decal to be issued during vessel registration, signifying compliance with safety requirements. A notable provision is the "Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act," which prohibits state agencies, municipalities, and counties from restricting the use or sale of watercraft based on their energy source (such as gasoline, diesel, electricity, hydrogen, or solar power). The bill also updates provisions related to licensing vessels owned by alien powers, simplifying previous language. The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving stakeholders time to prepare for the changes.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (1)
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Senate)
Last Action
Chapter No. 2025-35 (on 05/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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