Governor Ron DeSantis signs Florida’s Boater Freedom Act
Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1388, also known as the Boater Freedom Act, into law. This bill allows Florida boaters to be free from undue government interference in their enjoyment of Florida’s waters by preventing local bans on gas vessels, preventing random vessel safety inspections without probable cause, and directing the FWC to create a five-year safety inspection decal program linked to vessel registration.
“Florida is the boating and fishing capital of the world—and the Boater Freedom Act will ensure that this remains the case,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
This legislation ensures that boaters who prefer gas vehicles will not be limited by activist local entities. It also maintains statewide protections of wake speeds, manatee zones, and seagrass areas.
The bill will also prohibit boat inspections without probable cause, which were previously conducted as ‘safety compliance’ checks. The bill will additionally direct FWC to work with tax collectors to proactively provide a “Florida Freedom Boater” decal at registration. This decal will indicate to law enforcement that the boater has taken the necessary steps to maintain proper safety requirements. This strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring compliance with boating laws and reducing unnecessary disruptions for law-abiding boaters, making enforcement more practical and effective.
This bill is the culmination of the Governor’s boater freedom initiative proposal announced in February of this year.
Governor DeSantis also signed House Bill 735, which provides additional funding for public boat ramps, parking, and marina programs through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. These funds will ensure greater access to public waters and enable Florida to remain the boating and fishing capital of the world.
They should pass a similar bill for cars, Florida drivers to be free from undue government interference.
Law enforcement cannot randomly stop vehicles.
That’s right Hoyt…Desantis should pass a similar bill banning red light 🚦cameras!
Springs county won’t have red light cameras.
They should pass a similar bill for bicycles to help pay for all those bike lanes…
All bikes should have a front light, rear light, reflectors, and a registration tag….
They should pass a similar bill for those stand-on electric scooters you see around town. The rental ones should be required to have license plates and medical insurance in case they wreck.
If you are going to be on the road with cars, you need to help pay for that road!
Throw in liability as well.
Those idiots shouldn’t be allowed to sue someone for their stupidity.
This may: that’s right! The city was sued and lost because some idiot hit a man-hole cover a few years back. Those electric scooters should be banned from GNV city streets!
They should pass a similar bill for potholes. Pot holes should have to be licensed and insured. I think potholes should be banned but they have rights.
ABOUT EFFING TIME!! If you boat in Fort Lauderdale, you are at risk of being stopped and boarded by at least 7-different agencies including U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection, U.S. Border and Customs, Fort Lauderdale Police, Broward Sheriff’s department and on and on and on. God forbid you have some attractive women on board in bikinis on a Saturday — you’d get boarded all damn day! I knew a guy who was delivering his 80ft. yacht up the river to one of the marinas to have some repairs made. He was stopped and boarded 7 times by 7 different agencies!!! Holy crap this is overdue! Yet another common sense bill signed by the our common sense governor. I’m so grateful for this one! Thank you!!!!!