Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the types of energy sources that are restricted or how to determine necessity for protection from contamination.

Watercraft Energy Source Rules

This bill allows certain restrictions on watercraft based on their energy source if they are used in specific bodies of water to protect those waters from contamination.

What This Bill Does

• Allows state agencies, governmental authorities, and local governments to restrict the use or sale of watercraft based on the energy source used to power them when these boats are used in lakes, reservoirs, drainage ponds, detention ponds, or retention ponds if necessary for preservation or protection from contamination.

Who It Names or Affects

• State agencies
• Governmental authorities
• Local governments
• Watercraft owners and sellers

Terms To Know

Energy source

The type of fuel or power used to run a watercraft, like gasoline or electric batteries.

Detention pond

A man-made pond that holds stormwater temporarily before releasing it slowly into the environment.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify which types of energy sources are restricted or how to determine if a watercraft is necessary for contamination protection.
• It only applies to certain bodies of water and does not cover all possible situations involving watercraft use.

Official Summary Text

Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source; Providing an exception to the prohibition on state agencies, governmental authorities, and local governments restricting the use or sale of watercraft based on the energy source used to power the watercraft if such watercraft is used on certain bodies of water, etc.

Current Bill Text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 602

By
Senator Bernard

24-01181-26 2026602__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to watercraft restrictions based on
3 energy source; amending s. 327.75, F.S.; providing an
4 exception to the prohibition on state agencies,
5 governmental authorities, and local governments
6 restricting the use or sale of watercraft based on the
7 energy source used to power the watercraft if such
8 watercraft is used on certain bodies of water;
9 providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 327.75, Florida
14 Statutes, is amended to read:
15 327.75 Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act.—
16 (3) PROHIBITION ON RESTRICTIONS BASED ON ENERGY SOURCE.—
17
(a)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a state
18 agency, municipality, governmental entity, or county may not
19 restrict the use or sale of a watercraft based on the energy
20 source used to power the watercraft, including an energy source
21 used for propulsion or used for powering other functions of the
22 watercraft.
23
(b)

Paragraph (a) does not apply to the use or sale of a

24
watercraft on any lake, reservoir, or drainage pond, or a

25
detention or retention pond, which is necessary for the

26
preservation or protection of such waters from contamination.

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