HB157 • 2026

Boating; certain boating events exempt from obtaining an event permit

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Lee
Last action: 2026-01-29
Official status: Read Second Time in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the safety rules remaining in effect or limitations on event types beyond the number of vessels.

Boating Events with Fewer than 35 Vessels Don't Need Permits

This law says that boating events involving 35 or fewer vessels do not need to obtain an event permit from the state.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rules so that certain boating events with 35 or fewer vessels are exempt from obtaining an event permit.

Who It Names or Affects

People who organize boating events involving 35 or fewer vessels.
The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency responsible for issuing event permits.

Terms To Know

Regatta: A series of boat races.
Event permit: Special permission needed to hold a boating event, like a regatta or parade.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to events with 35 vessels or fewer.
It does not change the safety rules for these events; they still need to follow all other regulations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

4UFVWI3-1

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute

Plain English: 4UFVWI3-1 01/28/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-514 SUB HB157 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY SUBSTITUTE TO HB157 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LEE Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency is authorized to adopt rules concerning the safety of vessels and individuals observing or participating in a regatta, motorboat, or other boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition, and may adopt permit requirements for these events.

4UFVWI3-1 01/28/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-514 SUB HB157 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY SUBSTITUTE TO HB157 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LEE Page 1 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency is authorized to adopt rules concerning the safety of vessels and individuals observing or participating in a regatta, motorboat, or other boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition, and may adopt permit requirements for these events.
This bill would exempt any fishing tournament consisting of 30 vessels or fewer from applying for an event permit.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to boating vessels; to amend Section 33-5-27, Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt the operation of certain fishing tournaments from state permit requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-01-29 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-01-28 House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-28 House
Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute
2026-01-13 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Official Summary Text

Boating; certain boating events exempt from obtaining an event permit

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB157 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB157
W1BN355-1
By Representative Lee
RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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W1BN355-1 01/08/2026 GED (L)ma 2025-3681
Page 1
First Read: 13-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Secretary of the Alabama
State Law Enforcement Agency is authorized to adopt
rules concerning the safety of vessels and individuals
observing or participating in a regatta, motorboat, or
other boat race, marine parade, tournament, or
exhibition.
This bill would exempt any regatta, motorboat,
or other boat race, marine parade, tournament, or
exhibition consisting of 35 vessels or less from
applying for an event permit.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to boating vessels; to amend Section 33-5-27,
Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt the operation of certain
regatta, motorboat, or other boat races, marine parades,
tournaments, or exhibitions from state permit requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 33-5-27, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§33-5-27
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HB157 INTRODUCED
Page 2
"§33-5-27
(a) The secretary shall adopt and may amend rules
concerning the safety of vessels and persons observing or
participating in any regatta, motorboat, or other boat race,
marine parade, tournament, or exhibition.
(b) Any person sponsoring a regatta, motorboat, or
other boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition
shall be responsible for providing adequate protection from
marine traffic interference and hazards.
(c) Any regatta, motorboat, or other boat race, marine
parade, tournament, or exhibition consisting of 35 vessels or
less shall not be required to obtain an event permit or any
similar event authorization adopted by the secretary. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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