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HB79 INTRODUCED
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HB79
QNLIC55-1
By Representative Crawford
RFD: Ways and Means General Fund
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Dec-25
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QNLIC55-1 07/15/2025 MF (F)MF 2025-2265
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PFD: 17-Dec-25
SYNOPSIS:
Current law provides for a vessel registration
fee in an amount based on length of the vessel, as well
as an additional fixed registration fee of $5 per
vessel.
This bill would consolidate these fees and
provide for the distribution of these fees.
This bill would also make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code
language to current style
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to vessel registration; to amend Sections
33-5-10, 33-5-13, 33-5-14, and 33-5-17, Code of Alabama 1975,
relating to the registration of vessels, to provide for
registration fees and the distribution of those fees; and to
make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the
existing code language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 33-5-10, 33-5-13, 33-5-14, and
33-5-17, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
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33-5-17, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§33-5-10
(a)(1) The secretary shall issue annual certificates of
registration directly and shall authorize all judges of
probate in the state or any other official in the state who is
presently authorized to issue automobile motor vehicle license
plates to issue annual certificates of registration and
numbers in connection therewith .
(2) In conformity with this article and any rules
adopted by the secretary, the secretary shall assign to each
issuing officer in the county a block of numbers and
certificates to each issuing officer in the county which upon
issue, . theThe issuing officer shall be allowed may collect a
fee of two dollars ($2) for each certificate issued by him or
her. In counties where the judge of probate or issuing officer
is on the fee system, the issuing fee shall be retained by the
judge of probate, and, in counties where the issuing officer
or judge of probate is on a salary basis, the fee shall be
paid to the county treasury. The issuance fee shall be in
addition to the amount of the boat vessel registration fee
provided in Section 33-5-17 .
(b) All registration money monies collected from the
registration of vessels , except the two dollar ($2) issuance
fee allowed under subsection subdivision (a)(2), shall be
remitted monthly to ALEA not later than 10 days after the
first of each month. The secretary shall remit the
registration money these funds to the State Treasurer Treasury
to be deposited in the State Water Safety Fund as provided in
subsection (c) .
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subsection (c) .
(c)(1) Five dollars ($5) from each registration fee
provided in Section 33-5-17(a)(2)(i) through (iv) shall be
remitted monthly to the State Treasury and deposited into the
State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, established in Section
9-2-170, not later than 10 days after the first of each month.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by law, the remainder of
the monies collected pursuant to this article, excluding the
issuance fee provided in subsection (a) and the distribution
provided in subdivision (c)(1), shall be remitted monthly to
the State Treasury and deposited in the State Water Safety
Fund.
(3) All monies received out of the sale of
licenses collected from the registrations of vessels and
deposited in the State Water Safety Fund under this article
may be used by the secretary for all purposes reasonably
necessary in the cost of administration of this article,
including the printing of certificates of registration,
postage and transportation charges, clerical, personnel,
equipment purchases, salaries, and other expenses for each
year; except, that no funds collected under this article may
be used to supplement or pay the salaries of any law
enforcement officers other than those hired specifically for
the purposes of administering this article. The secretary
shall expend the monies appropriated to the Marine Patrol
Division as the secretary deems necessary and appropriate;
provided, however, that the appropriations may be expended
only for the purposes designated by the Legislature and in the
amounts provided therefor in the general appropriation bill
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amounts provided therefor in the general appropriation bill
and shall be budgeted and allotted in accordance with Article
4 of Chapter 4 of Title 41. It is the intent of the
Legislature that the agency utilize existing personnel and
equipment of the agency and of the sheriffs of this state to
the maximum possible extent in enforcing and administering
this article, to the end that there be no costly duplication
of services."
"§33-5-13
(a) EveryExcept as provided in subsection (b), each
certificate of registration and license as provided for in
this article is to shall be issued on a yearly basis and said
certificate and license shall be valid for one issuing year
only as provided in this article .
(b) The registration of vessels shall be on a staggered
basis. To implement this article, the registration of vessels
may be for periods of less than or greater than 12 months
during the conversion year only The initial certificate of
registration may be issued in any month and for a period less
than one year .
(c) The staggered system for registration of vessels
shall be implemented thusly: The first letter of an
individual's last name shall determine the month in which a A
vessel owner shall register renew the registration of his or
her vessel(s) , as indicated below during the month assigned to
the first letter of the vessel owner's last name, as follows :
January.................................A,D
February..............................B
March...................................C, E
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March...................................C, E
April......................................F, G, N
May.......................................H, O
June......................................M, I
July........................................P, L
August.................................J, K, R
September.........................Q, S, T
October...............................U, V, W, X, Y, Z,
to include livery boats, dealers, and manufacturers
January: A, D
February: B
March: C, E
April: F, G, N
May: H, O
June: M, I
July: P, L
August: J, K, R
September: Q, S, T
October: U, V, W, X, Y, Z, to include livery boats,
dealers, and manufacturers
(d)After the conversion period all owners of vessels
shall continue to register their vessels during the month
assigned to the first initial of their last name. All
registrations issued on a staggered basis shall expire on the
last day of the month whichthat precedes the registration
month assigned for the purchase or renewal of
registration provided in subsection (c) . All registrations
issued to vessels for which registration is due in October and
November shall expire on September 30. "
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November shall expire on September 30. "
"§33-5-14
(a) The description of the vessel of a manufacturer or
dealer shall be omitted from the certificate of registration
since the number awarded may be used on different vessels at
different times. In lieu of the vessel's description, the word
"manufacturer" or "dealer," as appropriate, shall be plainly
marked on each certificate of registration .
(b) The manufacturer or dealer may have the number
awarded printed upon or attached to a removable sign or signs
to be temporarily but firmly mounted upon or attached to the
vessel being demonstrated or tested so long as if the display
meets the requirements of this article.
(c) A certificate of registration and the corresponding
number issued pursuant to this section may only be used for
vessels being demonstrated or tested. "
"§33-5-17
(a)(1) Vessels subject to this article , including
livery boats, shall be classified as provided in subdivision
(2). according to the following schedule and annual fees
charged by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for
registration shall be in the following amounts
(2) The amount of the vessel registration fee for each
class is established as follows :
(i) CLASS 1. Vessels Lessless than 16 feet in length ,:
eighteen twenty-three dollars ($18)($23) plus a two dollar ($2)
issuance fee .
(ii) CLASS 2. Vessels Sixteen 16 feet or over and less
than 26 feet in length ,: twenty-three twenty-eight dollars
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than 26 feet in length ,: twenty-three twenty-eight dollars
($23)($28) plus a two dollar ($2) issuance fee .
(iii) CLASS 3. Vessels Twenty-six 26 feet or over and
less than 40 feet in length ,: seventy-three seventy-eight
dollars ($73)($78) plus a two dollar ($2) issuance fee .
(iv) CLASS 4. Vessels Forty40 feet or over in length ,:
ninety-eight one hundred three dollars ($98)($103) plus a two
dollar ($2) issuance fee .
The above stated fees shall also apply to livery boats.
(v) CLASS 5. Dealer or manufacturer vessels ;: temporary
license, twenty-three dollars ($23) plus a two dollar ($2)
issuance fee for each license .
(3) The issuance fee provided in Section 33-5-10(a)
shall be in addition to the vessel registration fee provided
in subdivision (2).
(b) In addition to the foregoing fees, there shall be
anAn inspection fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) is
established for all homemade boats which require a hull
identification number. This fee shall be in addition to any
other fee provided by law.
(c) In addition to the foregoing fees, there shall be
an additional registration fee of five dollars ($5) for every
Class 1 through 4 vessel registered. All monies received from
the additional registration fee provided under this subsection
shall be remitted monthly to the State Treasurer to be
deposited into the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund not
later than 10 days after the first of each month. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on January
1, 2027.
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