HB264 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny CrawfordRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Vessel Registration; amends boater registration fees and their distribution

Summary

HB264 would consolidate vessel registration fees into a new class-based schedule, add a per-certificate issuance fee, and set new fund distributions and a staggered renewal system, effective January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It replaces the old length-based registration fee plus a $5 flat fee with a class-based fee schedule (Classes 1–4 and dealer/manufacturer), plus a $2 issuance fee per certificate. It directs most registration revenue to the State Water Safety Fund, with $5 of each registration going to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, and an additional $5 per Class 1–4 vessel to the Reservoir Fund. It adds a $25 inspection fee for homemade boats and a $15 penalty for failure to renew or register on time, plus an extra $5 registration fee for Class 1–4 vessels. It creates a staggered renewal system by the owner's last name initial, with transitional rules during a conversion year and other related administrative updates, all becoming effective January 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Vessel owners, including those with Class 1–4, dealer/manufacturer vessels, and livery boats, who would pay revised class-based fees and the additional $5 for Class 1–4 vessels, plus potential penalties for late renewal.
• Dealers and manufacturers, who would have vessel numbers and certificates issued under new rules, including requirements to mark certificates as 'manufacturer' or 'dealer' and potential use of removable signs for display.
• Issuing officers and probate judges, who may collect and retain the $2 issuance fee or remit it to the county, depending on local fee systems.
• State agencies and funds, including ALEA (for remitting registration money), the State Treasury, the State Water Safety Fund, and the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, which would receive and manage the new fee distributions.

Key Provisions

• Consolidates the vessel registration fee based on length and the $5 flat fee into a single class-based schedule with five classes (Class 1–5) and a $2 issuance fee per certificate.
• Sets specific class-based fees (with ranges shown in the bill) for Class 1 (<16 ft), Class 2 (16–<26 ft), Class 3 (26–<40 ft), Class 4 (40 ft and over), and Class 5 (dealer/manufacturer vessels; temporary license), plus a $25 inspection fee for homemade boats.
• Adds an additional $5 registration fee for every Class 1–4 vessel, with these funds remitted monthly to the State Treasury and deposited into the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund.
• Requires $5 from each registration fee (for certain subcategories) to be remitted monthly to the State Treasury and deposited into the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, while remaining registration money (excluding the $2 issuance fee and the $5 reservoir-related portion) goes to the State Water Safety Fund.
• Provides for the issuance fee and how it is distributed in counties, including variances for counties with different issuing fee systems (judge of probate retention vs. county treasury).
• Imposes a $15 penalty for failure to renew or register as required, in addition to other applicable fees, and clarifies that these penalties apply to the corresponding registration actions.
• Establishes a staggered renewal system based on the vessel owner's last name initial, with conversion-year rules allowing non-12-month registrations during the conversion year and standard renewal timing thereafter.
• Requires non-substantive technical revisions to update language and outlines certificate, number, and labeling requirements for manufacturers and dealers, including temporary display options.
• Is effective January 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Waters & Boating