HB204 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul W. LeeRepresentative
Republican
Co-Sponsors: John Merrill Becky Nordgren Ed Henry Victor Gaston Donnie Chesteen Mike Jones Barbara Bigsby Boyd David Sessions Mac McCutcheon Harry Shiver Steve Clouse Laura Hall Terri Collins Mary Sue McClurkin Chad Fincher Jim Patterson Jamie Ison
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Navigable waters, obstructing prohibited, civil enforcement, civil penalties, exceptions
Summary: HB204 would make it illegal to obstruct navigation on Alabama's public waters with unlicensed docks, piers, or floating structures, and create civil remedies and penalties.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits damming up, anchoring, mooring, or abandoning floating piers, barges, or vessels that block public waterways without a license or permit, with fines of $100 to $1,000 per day if convicted. It also treats navigation obstruction as a public nuisance, allowing the state or affected property owners to pursue nuisance abatement and injunctive relief. Some waters used mainly for farming, industry, power generation, or public water supply and sanitation are exempt, and the act notes it creates a new crime with a delayed effective date.

Who It Affects
People who obstruct navigation on public waters by anchoring, damming, or abandoning floating structures without a license or permit (facing daily fines).
Property owners or other individuals whose access to public water is obstructed and who may seek injunctive relief or nuisance abatement.

Key Provisions
Section 1(a): Prohibits damming up, anchoring, mooring, or abandoning floating piers/barges/vessels that obstruct navigation on public water without a license or permit; fines of $100-$1,000 per day on conviction.
Section 1(b): Exempts public waters used primarily for agricultural, industrial, power generation, public water supply, or sanitation.
Section 2(a): Declares obstruction a public nuisance; nuisance may be abated by the state or by persons whose access is obstructed; provides for injunctive relief.
Section 2(b): Same exemption as Section 1(b).
Section 3: States the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 expenditure provisions because it creates a new crime or amends crime definitions.
Section 4: Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Boats and Boating