State Boating Act
Sponsored By: Senator Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced
Summary
Would allow States to collect boating-related fees when issuing vessel numbers. The bill would let a State require payment of fees tied to boating as a condition of getting a vessel number and collect them alongside other vessel-numbering fees, with revenue limited to search and rescue, boater safety, boater access and recreational boating, and aquatic invasive species mitigation.
Show full summary
- Families and boat owners: Boat owners could face a new State fee when they get a vessel number. The fee amount would be set by each State.
- State and local agencies: State issuing authorities would gain explicit power to impose and collect these fees and to bundle them with existing vessel-numbering charges.
- Boating safety, access, and conservation programs: Programs for search and rescue, boater safety, public access projects, and invasive species control could use these fees as a restricted funding source.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New state boating fees for boaters
If enacted, this bill would let States require payment of new boating-related fees when issuing a vessel number. The fees would be collected alongside existing vessel-numbering fees. They would include charges for search and rescue, boating safety, or aquatic invasive species work. Fees collected would have to be used only for boating safety, access, recreational boating use, and invasive-species mitigation, and vessel owners or registrants would be most likely to pay.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
ID • R
Cosponsors
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 3/10/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov