House Bill 735 and Boater Freedom Act Aim to Streamline Waterway Access and Safety

By: Amanda Ross, Esq.

On May 19, 2025, Florida Governor Ron Desantis has signed into law the Boater Freedom Act and House Bill 735. According to the Governor’s office, the Boater Freedom Act “strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring compliance with boating laws and reducing unnecessary disruptions for law-abiding boaters, making enforcement more practical and effective,” while House Bill 735 provides additional funding through a competitive grant program for public boat ramps, parking, and marina programs.

While there are several important provisions of the Act, the Act prevents random vessel safety inspections without probable cause and directs the commission, in coordinate with the Deparment of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to create a “Florida Freedom Boater” safety inspection decal for issue at the time of registration or renewal which shall signify that the vessel meets the safety equiment carriage and use requirements of the Act. The Florida Freedom Boater decal shall be displayed within 6 inches of the vessel the registration decal.