To allow States to require payment of State fees related to boating as a condition for issuance of a vessel number and to collect such fees in conjunction with other fees related to vessel numbering.
Sponsored By: Representative Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Introduced
Summary
This bill authorizes State issuing authorities to collect a new category of state fees tied to vessel-numbering to support boating programs. It allows fees to cover search and rescue, boating safety, boater access, and efforts to address aquatic invasive species, and requires those fees to be used only for those related activities.
Show full summary
- Recreational boaters and families: States may add a new fee when registering or numbering vessels to fund search and rescue, safety training, boater access, or aquatic invasive species work.
- State issuing authorities: Officials can collect the new boating fee together with existing vessel-numbering fees, making administration and payment concurrent with registration.
- Local waterways and conservation programs: Collected fees are restricted to activities that improve recreational boating, boater safety, boater access, or control of aquatic invasive species.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New state boating fees for boat owners
If enacted, your State would be able to require you to pay state boating fees before issuing a vessel number. Those fees would include charges for search and rescue, boating safety, or aquatic invasive species work. States would be able to collect these fees together with other vessel-numbering fees. Fee money would have to fund only boating safety, access, recreational use, or invasive species activities. This would take effect upon enactment. This would likely mean small extra costs for households that register recreational boats.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
UT • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov