# Georgia HB 1266: Watercraft; use of certain motors on vessels being operated on the Ogeechee River; repeal a provision

Georgia HB 1266, Watercraft; use of certain motors on vessels being operated on the Ogeechee River; repeal a provision, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Steven Meeks (Republican), Trey Rhodes (Republican), Jason Ridley (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1266-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1266
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Watercraft; use of certain motors on vessels being operated on the Ogeechee River; repeal a provision
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-10
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Steven Meeks (Republican), Trey Rhodes (Republican), Jason Ridley (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Game, Fish & Parks, Natural Resources and the Environment, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (211 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Personal watercraft ban lifted on Ogeechee River: benefit, low. The law removes the personal watercraft ban on a specific stretch of the Ogeechee River. This covers the river from its State Highway 119 crossing upstream to its origin. It applies to personal watercraft as defined in Georgia law. Law enforcement craft were already exempt.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Steven Meeks (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Trey Rhodes (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jason Ridley (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-25 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 47 | 1 | 6 |
| 2026-03-04 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 164 | 0 | 10 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-11: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-11: Act 451
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-25: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-04: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-25: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-17: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2026-02-12: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-12: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-11: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-10: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1266/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247673)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1266/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247673)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1266-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).