SB 628 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Boating Safety

Summary

Boating Safety; Citing this act as "Lucy's Law"; revising the definition of the term “livery vessel”; revising and providing penalties for vessel collisions, accidents, and casualties; revising and providing penalties for reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring the suspension of driver licenses for boating under the influence and reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring a person convicted of a certain criminal violation or certain noncriminal infractions within a specified period to complete a boater safety education course, etc.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 628 c1 → S 628 c2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision expands boating safety regulations by adding mandatory education requirements for repeat violators, clarifying definitions of 'livery' vessels, and updating penalties for vessel collisions and reckless operation. The changes strengthen enforcement mechanisms and ensure consistent application of boating safety laws across Florida.

Scope change

The bill now includes additional requirements for repeat offenders and expands the definition of livery operations to better regulate commercial boating services.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 7 requiring mandatory boater safety education courses for persons convicted of certain criminal violations, noncriminal infractions resulting in reportable accidents, or two specific infractions within a 12-month period.

Modified Section 7 to redesignate existing subsections and add new requirements for mandatory education and $500 fines for repeat violators.

DEFINITION

Revised the definition of 'livery' in Section 6 to clarify that livery operators do not require a Coast Guard licensed captain or crew, distinguishing them from traditional charter services.

Modified Section 2 definition of 'livery vessel' to include both leased and rented vessels in addition to chartered vessels.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated Section 4 to change the amendment reference from subsection (2) to subsection (1) of section 327.33 regarding reckless or careless vessel operation penalties.

Added Section 5 creating new section 327.35105 requiring driver license suspension for convictions of boating under the influence or reckless/careless vessel operation.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/08/25, 2:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Transportation, 03/12/25, 8:30 am, 37 Senate Building

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 03/04/25, 2:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Justice; Transportation; Fiscal Policy

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors