# Maryland HB 0719: Natural Resources - State Boat Act - Alterations

Maryland HB 0719, Natural Resources - State Boat Act - Alterations, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 433); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0719-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0719
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Natural Resources - State Boat Act - Alterations
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-27
- Last action: 2025-05-13, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 433
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Natural Resources - Generally, Accidents, Annotated Code of Maryland, Boats and Ships, Children (4-12), Classifications and Designations, Construction, Emergencies -see also- Pandemics, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Forms, Hearings, Leases and Rent, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Marinas -see also- Piers and Docks, Minors -see also- Age of Majority; Youth, Motor Vehicles -see also- Aband Veh; Ambulances; Buses; etc., Natural Resources -see also- Coal; For&Pks; Rivers; etc., Notices, Revenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax), Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Special Events, Time, Titles -see also- Deeds, Water -see also- Coastal Bays; Riv,Str,Lks; Wastewater; etc., Waterway Improvement Fund
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (134 yes, 52 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Updated life jacket rules for kids: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, children under 13 must wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets aboard boats under 21 feet. This applies to recreational use and boats leased, rented, or chartered for noncommercial use. Jackets must fit correctly, be in good working condition, and be properly secured. Oper…
- More funding flexibility for boating projects: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Waterway Improvement Fund can fully fund eligible public boating construction costing up to $500,000, formerly $250,000. Qualifying marina construction benefiting the general boating public can receive full funding up to $1 million. Above either threshold, the Fund ca…
- Higher fees for Maryland boat owners: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, vessel registration applications cost $70 instead of $24; replacement or corrected certificates cost $20 instead of $2. The fee exemption ends for boats 16 feet or shorter with motors of 7.5 horsepower or less. Emergency rescue and fire boats belonging to Maryland fire de…
- Broader safety duties for boat rentals: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, rental safety rules cover any boat under 16 feet rented, leased, or chartered for under 24 hours. Coverage is no longer limited to the former Class A category. Boats must be seaworthy and equipped for the waters where they operate. The owner, agent, or employee must hold…
- Higher fees for boat dealers: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland raises the manufacturer and boat dealer license fee ceiling from $25 to $50. The Department of Natural Resources sets the actual fee, which cannot exceed $50. Each application for a manufacturer's or dealer's certificate of number costs $70 instead of $24. Certif…
- Emergency boats must renew registrations sooner: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland fire departments and rescue squads must renew emergency rescue and fire boat registrations every two years. Previously, renewal was required every three years. These boats remain exempt from registration fees.
- Fewer public notice rights on boating rules: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Natural Resources no longer must advertise State Boat Act rules in two daily newspapers and one weekly. The law removes the requirement to publish those notices at least 45 days before rules take effect. It also removes the required hearing when at least 50 Maryland resid…
- Optional boat decals bring fees and duties: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, owners can apply for a $12 decal for qualifying boats without motors. Boats must be used mainly on Maryland waters and fall outside Maryland registration and use-sticker requirements. The decal lasts up to two years and must be displayed on the boat's exterior. After a tr…
- New safety controls for Maryland boaters: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Natural Resources can set or change speed zones by public notice near construction, events, accidents, or emergencies. It must find a public safety risk and that delay conflicts with the public interest. It can also control, limit, or restrict boat movement in areas desig…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 34 | 13 |   |
| 2025-03-12 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 100 | 39 | 2 |

## Actions (14)

- 2025-05-13: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 433
- 2025-04-04: Returned Passed (House)
- 2025-04-03: Third Reading Passed (34-13) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Second Reading Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Favorable Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Third Reading Passed (100-39) (House)
- 2025-03-11: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2025-03-11: Favorable with Amendments {293023/1 Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-10: Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation (House)
- 2025-01-29: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2025-01-27: First Reading Environment and Transportation (House)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2025-05-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_433_hb0719t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2025-03-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0719t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2025-01-27: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0719f.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed)
- HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed)
- SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed)
- HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law)
- HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_433_hb0719t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0719t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0719f.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS)
- [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS)
- [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS)
- [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS)
- [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS)
- [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0719-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).