New Boating Law 2025

Ahhhh, Safety and sanitation- Lifejackets, flares, boat horn, proper black water disposal. Captains are free now from routine FWC boarding and inspection for the above reasons.

Senate Bill 1388 has been signed into Florida law.

The Boater law applies to Florida Fish and Wildlife officers legal ability to board your boat. Boarding can still be done with "probable" cause of a violation. Inspections for safety and sanitation are now excluded from cause.

Here is how it works. A decal, "Florida Freedom Boater", can be obtained at time of boat registration. The decal serves as a flag that your vessel has already passed safety and sanitary inspection. Thus random boarding and inspections by FWC are eliminated, as long as the decal is in effect..

Also, a vessel cannot be prohibited by local authorities in use or sale due to its fuel type. Examples of fuel include diesel, electric, hydrogen, and solar. Wind???

So, some details are pending, i.e. ,cost, how and when to obtain the decal from your county DMV. And, is boating access in sensitive waters changed? Are all waters open to all fuel types, as opposed to no fuel allowed there? Local municipalities are prohibited from regulating as well.

There are more provisions included which can be read in this link below.

What is the human and environmental cost of Freedom Boater?

https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1388