SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 1173

Boating-restricted Areas
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SPONSOR
Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; Sirois
FILED BY
Tyler Sirois — District 31, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/HB 1103 — CS/HB 1173 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Boating-restricted Areas; Authorizes municipalities & counties to adopt ordinances to extend boating-restricted areas under certain conditions; requires boundaries of such areas to be clearly marked with specified markers.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Allows boating-restricted zones near blind corners to reach 1,000 feet.

Municipalities and counties can already adopt idle-speed/no-wake, slow-speed or numeric speed-limit, and vessel-exclusion ordinances for blind corners, narrow bends, and similar navigational hazards, subject to state commission review.

A new fourth option lets these governments regulate vessel speed and operation within 300 feet of a blind-corner confluence, extendable up to 1,000 feet if the larger area is necessary for safe navigation and visibility.

Boundaries of this new zone must be marked with uniform waterway regulatory markers under commission rules, and like the other categories, the ordinance cannot take effect until the commission reviews it and finds it necessary for public safety.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New authority to regulate vessel speed and operation near blind corners majors. 327.46(1)(c)

AIMunicipalities and counties may adopt an ordinance regulating vessel speed and operation within 300 feet of a confluence of water bodies presenting a blind corner, a broader category of restriction than the existing idle-speed, no-wake option covering the same kind of location.

“regulating vessel speed and operation within 300 feet of a confluence of water bodies presenting a blind corner” bill text, line 25 →
§ 2 Restricted zone can extend to 1,000 feet when necessary moderates. 327.46(1)(c)

AIThis new speed-and-operation zone is not capped at 300 feet like the statute's other blind-corner categories. It may instead reach up to 1,000 feet if the larger area is necessary to ensure safe navigation and visibility for approaching vessels.

“up to a distance of 1,000 feet if such extended area is necessary to ensure safe navigation and visibility” bill text, line 27 →
§ 3 New boundary-marking requirement for the expanded zone moderates. 327.46(1)(c)

AIBoundaries of the new vessel speed and operation restricted area must be clearly marked with uniform waterway regulatory markers that comply with commission rules, giving boaters a physical signal of where the extended restriction applies.

“boundaries of such areas must be clearly marked by uniform waterway regulatory markers consistent with commission rules” bill text, line 29 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in State Affairs Committee; Companion bill(s) passed, see...
2/16/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/16/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/16/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
2/13/2026
CS Filed
2/13/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/13/2026
Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
2/12/2026
Favorable with CS by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
2/10/2026
Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/7/2026
Filed
9 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 327.46
+69 / −9
STAFF ANALYSES