The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to vessel operations and safety regulations. It allows the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to modify vessel positioning methods to prevent significant harm to springs, clarifying what constitutes significant harm. Additionally, it prohibits law enforcement officers from stopping or boarding vessels without probable cause and reclassifies violations of safety or marine sanitation equipment requirements as secondary offenses. The bill also mandates the creation of a Florida Freedom Boater safety inspection decal, which signifies compliance with safety equipment requirements, and outlines the conditions under which officers may stop vessels.

Furthermore, the bill introduces the Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act, which prohibits state agencies and local governments from restricting the use or sale of watercraft based on the energy source used to power them. It also revises the provisions regarding the issuance of licenses for vessels owned by certain alien powers, removing references to international communism. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1388 Filed: 253.0346, 327.47, 327.56, 327.70
S 1388 c1: 253.0346, 327.45, 327.47, 327.56, 327.70, 379.226
S 1388 e1: 327.30, 327.33, 327.45, 327.54, 327.56, 327.73, 379.226, 782.072
S 1388 e2: 327.45, 327.56, 327.70, 379.226
S 1388 er: 327.45, 327.56, 327.70, 379.226