Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata contains a contradiction between 'Passed Legislature' and 'Died in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee'. The text of the bill is included as provided, but its actual legal status cannot be confirmed from this data alone.

Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source

This bill generally stops state agencies and local governments from banning boats based on their fuel type, but allows restrictions on specific small water bodies to prevent contamination.

What This Bill Does

• Amends Florida Statute section 327.75 regarding watercraft energy source freedom.
• Prohibits state agencies, counties, municipalities, and governmental entities from restricting the sale or use of boats based on their energy source.
• Defines 'energy source' to include power used for moving the boat or running other functions on it.
• Allows restrictions only on lakes, reservoirs, drainage ponds, or detention/retention ponds needed to protect water quality.

Who It Names or Affects

• State agencies
• Counties
• Municipalities (cities)
• Governmental entities

Terms To Know

Watercraft

A boat or vessel used on water.

Energy source

The fuel or power type used to move the boat or run its other functions.

Limits and Unknowns

• Restrictions are only allowed for specific types of water bodies like lakes, reservoirs, and certain ponds.
• The bill does not define exactly how officials will decide if a pond needs protection from contamination.
• There is conflicting information in the provided metadata: one status says it passed both chambers, while another action shows it died in a subcommittee.

Official Summary Text

Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source; Authorizes state agencies, governmental entities, & local governments to restrict use of watercraft based on energy source used to power watercraft if such watercraft is used on certain bodies of water.

Current Bill Text

HB 545 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb545-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to watercraft restrictions based on 2
energy source; amending s. 327.75, F.S.; authorizing 3
state agencies, governmental entities, and local 4
governments to restrict the use of a watercraft based 5
on the energy source used to power the watercraft if 6
such watercraft is used on certain bodies of water; 7
providing an effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
11
Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 327.75, Florida 12
Statutes, is amended to read: 13
327.75 Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act.— 14
(3) PROHIBITION ON RESTRICTIONS BASED ON ENERGY SOURCE.—15
(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a state 16
agency, municipality, governmental entity, or county may not 17
restrict the use or sale of a watercraft based on the energy 18
source used to power the watercraft, including an energy source 19
used for propulsion or used for powering other functions of the 20
watercraft. 21
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any lake, reservoir, 22
drainage pond, or a detention or retention pond necessary for 23
the preservation or protection of such waters from 24
contamination. 25

HB 545 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb545-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 26