Florida's Boater Freedom Act takes effect this July: Here's what it means
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Boater Freedom Act on Monday, which will change how law enforcement pulls over boaters on the water.
Starting July 1, officers will no longer be allowed to conduct random "safety compliance" stops unless they have probable cause. Instead, boaters can display a "Florida Freedom Boater" decal, indicating they've already met required safety standards.
The new law also protects the rights of residents to use gas-powered boats on Florida waters.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Boater Freedom Act into law on Monday during a news conference with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Panama City.
The new law, also known as Senate Bill 1388, will take effect this summer on July 1, which will change how law enforcement pulls over boaters on the water. Here's what we know about the law.
What we know
According to DeSantis' office, the Boater Freedom Act will protect boaters by allowing them to use any energy source — including gas, diesel fuel, electricity, hydrogen, or solar power — to operate their vessels. This ensures that gas-powered boaters won't be restricted by local rules.
The law will also put a stop to random boat inspections unless there's a good reason. Currently, law enforcement can stop or board a vessel for a safety compliance check.
Instead, it will direct the FWC to work with tax collectors to provide a "Florida Freedom Boater" decal at registration – which will let officers know that the boater has already taken steps to maintain safety requirements.
In addition, DeSantis signed House Bill 735, which increases funding for public boat ramps, parking, and marina programs – improving access to Florida's public waterways.
The bill will also keep important protections in place for manatee zones, seagrass areas, and wake speeds across the state.
What they're saying
"This Freedom Boater Act is going to make sure that Florida remains the boater capital of the world," DeSantis said. "We're going to make sure that boaters are able to choose the type of vessel that they want. We're not going to allow local governments to step in and block the ability to purchase, and for the businesses to sell, vessels based on the source of fuel those vessels are using."
Dig deeper
To read the Boater Freedom Act in its entirety, click here or see below:
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Gov. Ron DeSantis during a news conference in Panama City on May 19, 2025. Additional details were provided in an online press release from the governor's office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
DeSantis' lieutenant governor pick raises 2026 questions
Gov. Ron DeSantis' choice of State Sen. Jay Collins (R-Hillsborough) as Florida's next lieutenant governor is sending ripples through the state's political scene and the 2026 race for the governor's mansion. Why it matters: The appointment fuels speculation that Collins may be DeSantis' preferred successor over U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, teeing up another showdown between the governor and President Trump. Catch up quick: Trump derailed any succession maneuvering by DeSantis — once seen as a kingmaker in Florida — by throwing his weight behind Donalds before the congressman had even announced. DeSantis dismissed Donalds, telling him to prioritize the president's agenda in Congress and stressing that the congressman "wasn't part of any of the victories we've had here over these last years." Thanks to the Sunshine State-to-West Wing pipeline and a game of political musical chairs, DeSantis had the rare opportunity to appoint loyalists to almost every elected Florida cabinet post. Enter Collins, a former Green Beret who spent three years in the state Senate representing Tampa — a seat he won with DeSantis' backing — now replacing Jeanette Nuñez as the governor's second-in-command. The post sat vacant for six months after Nuñez became president of Florida International University. Meanwhile, chatter about a Casey DeSantis 2026 campaign cooled after a state House investigation into Hope Florida, the welfare assistance program she spearheaded. Driving the news: Collins hasn't closed the door on a run for governor, and political insiders told Axios he could announce as soon as October. He and DeSantis brushed off questions about it during the announcement. The governor's office didn't respond to Axios' request for comment. But DeSantis has said he wants his other appointees, the attorney general and the chief financial officer, to remain in office. What they're saying: U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R), who supports Donalds but worked with Collins in the state Senate, told Axios that Collins is now "out of the job in a year and a half... so that's a reason he might run." "He'll have an extremely difficult time, if that's what he decides to do," Fine said. "Jay is a complete unknown. What I can tell you, as a former state senator, no one knows who you are around the state." "This is Trump's Republican Party ... and beyond having his endorsement, Donalds has raised an astonishing amount of money." Donalds, for his part, congratulated Collins on his appointment on X, saying he wishes him "all the best" — to which Collins replied, "Thank you." But when asked about Collins' potential run, Donalds' campaign pointed Axios to Trump's endorsement. David Jolly, who's running for the Democratic nomination for governor, called Collins an "American hero" in comments to Axios, but said "the DeSantis-Trump proxy war is real."
CBS News
17 hours ago
- CBS News
Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade approved despite strong opposition
The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade will take place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs and targeting the animals in baited locations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana, with both supporters and opposents present. The panel had given preliminary approval in May, citing a need to manage growing bear populations. "We make decisions based on science," said commission chair Rodney Barreto. Opponents called the hunt cruel, unnecessary and an excuse for hunters to bag a trophy animal when the real issue is the encroaching human population in bear habitat as Florida continues to grow. "Not all the hunters support this hunt. We'd like to see nature in balance," said Lauren Jorgensen, whose family owns a ranch in rural Suwannee County. There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida, one of the few states with sizable populations that do not have a bear hunting season. Several pro-hunt speakers noted that bears are much more commonly seen in many areas than in the past, causing interactions with humans that provoke fear and concern. Ottice Amison, a member of the Franklin County Commission, said residents there report bears on porches, rooting through garbage cans, roaming neighborhoods and playgrounds. "The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continue to rise," Amison told the wildlife commission. "Right now, too many of our residents see bears as threats and pests." There has been only one documented fatal black bear attack in Florida, the May mauling of 89-year-old Robert Markel and his daughter's dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. The plan adopted Wednesday has more stringent rules than the previous Florida hunt in 2015, in which hunting permits were provided to anyone who could pay for them. That led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too. Hunt opponents predict this year will be more of the same. "This decision reflects political pressure, not ecological necessity or public will," said Susannah Randolph, director of the Sierra Club Florida chapter. Under the new rule, there would be a random drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. In future years, hunters could use up to six dogs each to pursue bears. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a "bear harvest program" on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property. Also, bowhunting will be allowed under rules similar to those for deer.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. DeSantis hails Lt. Gov. Jay Collins' story, but says politics can wait
Newly-appointed Lt. Gov. Jay Collins isn't jumping into the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. At least not yet. DeSantis on Aug. 13 praised Collins for his military background and record as a state senator, touting him as a potential good candidate, but noted the primary for the governor's race is another year away. 'Jay has been clear: This has been about doing a mission. Politics will take care of itself,' DeSantis said at an event in Tampa. Collins, 47, was elected to the Florida Senate for a district covering part of Hillsborough County in 2022 after being recruited to run by DeSantis. A Green Beret with tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Collins was lauded by DeSantis for standing with him during his push for illegal immigration enforcement laws earlier in the year. DeSantis praises Collins: 'Blown away by his story' Beyond being able to do the job of governor, though, DeSantis said Collins would be a good candidate on the campaign trail. 'A lot of the people that didn't know much about him were really blown away by his story,' DeSantis said of his Aug. 12 announcement naming Collins as lieutenant governor. 'He definitely has the ingredients to be a compelling candidate that would grab attention.' DeSantis' comments come against the backdrop of a nascent campaign season that could resurrect the feud between him and President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, has already started his campaign for governor and has received Trump's endorsement. DeSantis has notably not endorsed Donalds, who backed Trump in 2024 when DeSantis challenged him for the GOP nomination for President. But DeSantis also downplayed speculation that his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, would run to succeed him: 'That's not anything she has ever outwardly sought. She's really happy making a difference.' On the Democratic side in the governor's race, the only major candidate who has filed to run is former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a Republican who left the GOP and became a Democrat in April. Democratic former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Jr. of Tallahassee has said he's considering a run as well. More: Former US Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee eyes Florida governor race in 2026 Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@ Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis praises Jay Collins but says talk of governor bid can wait
