PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Boater Freedom Act Monday in Panama City.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Boater Safety Act into law

  • It will require police searching a vessel to have probable cause

  • It will also preclude any local government from banning gas-powered boat sales

The plan was a priority of his during this year’s legislative session, and would prevent random vessel searches by law enforcement without probable cause.

“People feel like they’re being violated to have someone come in and start rummaging through. It’s just not how we do. It’s the same as if someone wanted to come in and just start searching your house without a basis. People would just feel that’s wrong, even if there was no wrongdoing involved in terms of that law enforcement found anything,” DeSantis said at the signing ceremony.

The new law would also prohibit any local government from implementing a ban on sales of gas-powered boats.

“If you want to buy an electric boat, I don’t think you should be prohibited from it, but you certainly shouldn’t be required to do that,” DeSantis said. “If you want a boat, you should be able to buy traditional vessels.”

Additionally, the new law would direct Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to create a five-year safety inspection decal program linked to vessel registration.

The governor also signed HB 735 into law. That proposal provides additional funding for public boat ramps, as well as parking areas and local marina programs.