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Allows state boating authorities to charge a state boating fee at the same time they collect other fees under federal law and limits how those state fees may be used. The fee revenue may only fund improvements to recreational boating, boater safety and access, and programs that mitigate aquatic invasive species.
The bill streamlines fee collection and directs funds to boating safety and environmental protection, but it likely raises costs for boat owners and constrains how states can spend those fees.
Recreational boaters and coastal/inland communities get safer boating programs because fee revenue is restricted to recreational boating and boater-safety projects (including search-and-rescue and prevention), improving emergency response and prevention.
Fishermen, recreational boaters, and watershed communities benefit because funds can be used to mitigate aquatic invasive species, protecting fisheries and water quality.
Recreational boaters and boat owners save time and paperwork because they can pay State boating fees at the same time as other federal/state fees, reducing duplicate trips and administrative burden.
Recreational boaters and boat owners may face new or higher State registration/safety/invasive-species fees and larger one-time charges if States consolidate collections, increasing out-of-pocket costs.
State and local governments may have reduced flexibility because fee revenue is limited to specified boating activities, preventing use for other local boating needs residents may prioritize.
Taxpayers could indirectly subsidize emergency responses to higher-risk recreational behavior if States shift search-and-rescue costs onto fee-funded programs, raising fairness concerns.
Designates the Act's official short title as the "State Boating Act."
Amend 46 U.S.C. §12307 (the lead-in and paragraph structure) to change phrasing in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and adjust punctuation within paragraphs (1) and (2).
Establish a new subsection (b) permitting a State issuing authority to collect a State fee described in subsection (a)(3) in conjunction with collecting any other fee under this section.
Limit the permitted uses of fees collected by States under this section to funding activities directly related to improving recreational boating, boater safety, boater access, recreational use of waterways, and aquatic invasive species mitigation.
Authorize States to require payment of State fees related to boating, which may include fees for search and rescue operations, boating safety measures, or efforts to address aquatic invasive species.
State boating authorities: Gain explicit authority to collect a State boating fee at the same time as other federally referenced fees, and must track and restrict spending to specified purposes. Boaters and recreational users: Could see state fees added to existing charges; those fees are earmarked for improvements that may enhance safety, access, and recreational facilities. Marinas and small businesses tied to boating: May benefit indirectly from investments in boating infrastructure and access. Environmental efforts: Programs to prevent or mitigate aquatic invasive species may receive dedicated funding sources at the state level. Federal government: Makes a statutory clarification but does not create new federal spending or mandates; enforcement and administration remain at state level within the clarified statute.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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Introduced March 4, 2026 by Michael Dean Crapo · Last progress March 4, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate