Sponsors (4)
The bill centralizes and targets boating-related fee collection to boost funding for safety, access, and conservation, but may raise costs for boaters/taxpayers and shift or concentrate funding and administrative burdens at the state/local level.
State governments can combine collection of boating-related fees, simplifying administration and increasing revenue available for boating safety, access, and recreational programs.
Boaters and waterfront users may get improved safety, access, and recreational services because the law limits fee use to boating safety, access, recreation, and invasive species mitigation.
Local recreation and conservation projects (for example, invasive species control and habitat work) gain a dedicated funding source, supporting healthier waterways and recreational areas.
Boaters and taxpayers could face higher or consolidated state fees (including search-and-rescue and safety-related charges) if states impose or raise fees at registration.
If states restrict how collected fees are used, other maritime or broader local needs may receive less funding, shifting budget pressure elsewhere.
Increased or consolidated fee collection could create minor compliance and administrative costs for issuing authorities and some boat owners during implementation.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Allows States to collect certain boating fees at the same time as other fees and limits those fees' uses to boating safety, access, recreation, and aquatic invasive species mitigation.
Authorizes States that issue boating credentials to collect specified State boating fees at the same time they collect other fees authorized under federal law, and limits how those State fees may be used. The permitted uses are focused on improving recreational boating, boater safety, boater access, recreational water use, and activities to mitigate aquatic invasive species. The change amends federal boating law (46 U.S.C. § 12307) to expressly allow concurrent fee collection and to clarify that States may require payment of State fees related to boating, including fees tied to search-and-rescue, safety, or aquatic invasive species efforts.
Introduced March 4, 2026 by Michael Dean Crapo · Last progress March 4, 2026