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HB157 • 2026

Boating; certain boating events exempt from obtaining an event permit

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 text defines the exemption threshold as '35 vessels or less' but does not provide definitions for terms like 'regatta' or 'marine parade', so those were removed from the glossary to avoid adding external information.

Exempting Small Boating Events from Permit Requirements

This bill removes the need for a state permit for boat races, regattas, marine parades, tournaments, or exhibitions that have 35 or fewer vessels.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Section 33-5-27 of the Code of Alabama to change rules about boating events.
  • Exempts regattas, motorboat races, marine parades, tournaments, and exhibitions with 35 or fewer vessels from needing an event permit.
  • Keeps existing rules that require sponsors to provide protection for people watching or participating in these events.
  • Allows the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to continue adopting safety rules for all boating events.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Sponsors organizing boat races, regattas, marine parades, tournaments, or exhibitions with 35 vessels or less.
  • The Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency regarding permit enforcement and safety rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to events with 35 vessels or fewer; larger events still need a permit.
  • This change becomes effective on October 1, 2026, and does not apply before that date.

Amendments

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

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Public Safety and Homeland Security

Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute

Plain English: This amendment creates a rule that small fishing tournaments with 30 or fewer boats do not need to get an official permit from the state.

  • Fishing tournaments with 30 vessels or less are now exempt from needing an event permit.
  • The law updates Section 33-5-27 of the Alabama Code to include this specific exemption for small fishing events.
  • This change only applies to fishing tournaments and does not affect other types of boat races or marine parades.
  • The new rule will not take effect until October 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  2. 2026-01-28 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  3. 2026-01-28 House

    Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute

  4. 2026-01-13 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  5. 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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