# Illinois SB2179: DNR-BOAT REGISTRATION/SAFETY

Illinois SB2179, DNR-BOAT REGISTRATION/SAFETY, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Julie A. Morrison (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-08-01 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0137); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB2179-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB2179
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: DNR-BOAT REGISTRATION/SAFETY
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-07
- Last action: 2025-08-01, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0137
- Sponsor: Julie A. Morrison (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: assignments, transportation, transportation: vehicles & safety
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (151 yes, 47 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Amends the Boat Registration and Safety Act. Prohibits a person from falsifying information on any application to the Department of Natural Resources that is required to be provided to the Department by the Act. Provides that the navigation lights shall, at minimum, have an intensity so as to be visible at the minimum ranges as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations. Provides that it is unlawful to operate a motorboat without a whistle, horn, or other appliance capable of producing a blast of 2 seconds or more duration and having an audible distance as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (rather than being audible for at least one-half mile). Prohibits a motorboat operator from operating a motorboat less than 26 feet in length that is equipped by the manufacturer with an engine cutoff switch if the switch is not in use while the motorboat is operating on plane or above displacement speed. Prohibits a person from operating a watercraft without first verifying that the engine cut-off switch is operational and fully functional and properly attaching the lanyard or wireless attachment to the operator's body or to the clothing or personal flotation device being worn by the operator. Provides that a power-driven vessel operating in narrow channels and proceeding downbound with a following current (rather than downstream) shall have the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner and place of passage, and shall imitate the maneuvering signals as required by law. Changes the ages at which a person may operate a motorboat based on the speed of the motorboat. Prohibits certain marijuana use within certain areas of a watercraft while upon waters in the State. Requires the Department to outline the application process for passenger-for-hire licenses or rental boat licenses by administrative rule. Makes other changes.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Boat businesses face licensing rules: cost, medium. Rental and passenger-for-hire boat businesses must renew their licenses each January 1; licenses run only through December 31. Administrative rules replace fee amounts written in statute, including the annual rental fee for each boat rented or offered for rent. The law does not state the resulting…
- Boaters must meet equipment safety rules: cost, low. Required boat lights must meet the minimum visibility distances in federal rule 33 CFR 83.22. Motorboats must carry a sound device capable of a blast lasting at least 2 seconds, audible as 33 CFR 86.01 requires. That federal sound standard replaces the old half-mile rule. Motorboats under 26 feet w…
- Boaters face inspections and impoundment costs: cost, low. Authorized officers can board and inspect watercraft at any time to check compliance with Illinois boating law. Covered boats underway must stop when hailed by a designated officer. Officers can also seize and impound boats involved in boating accidents, with the owner or operator paying impoundmen…
- Downstream boats get narrow-channel right-of-way: mixed, low. In narrow channels, power-driven boats heading downstream with the current have right-of-way over boats heading upstream. The downstream boat must propose where and how to pass and use the required maneuvering signals. The upstream boat must yield as needed for safe passage.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Julie A. Morrison (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michael J. Kelly (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-22 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 76 | 36 |   |
| 2025-04-23 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Transportation: Vehicles & Safety; | pass | 8 | 4 |   |
| 2025-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 48 | 7 |   |
| 2025-03-05 | Senate | Do Pass as Amended Transportation; | pass | 19 | 0 |   |

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179enr.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179.pdf)
- Senate Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179sam001.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179enr.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179.pdf)
- [Senate Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB2179sam001.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB2179-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).