Senate Bill No. 205, introduced by Senator Hensgens, amends and reenacts specific provisions of Louisiana's boat registration laws, specifically R.S. 34:851.19 and 851.22(A). The bill mandates that all undocumented motorboats, houseboats, and sailboats operating on Louisiana waters must be numbered according to state or federal regulations, with the identifying number displayed on each side of the vessel's bow. Additionally, the bill clarifies that documented vessels, which are properly certificated and marked in accordance with federal law, are exempt from state numbering and display requirements.

The amendments include the insertion of the term "undocumented" to specify the type of vessels that must be numbered and the addition of a new exemption clause for vessels covered by federally approved numbering systems from other states. The bill also updates the numbering exemption criteria, removing outdated provisions and streamlining the language for clarity. These changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB205 Original: 34:22(A)
SB205 Engrossed: 34:22(A)
SB205 Reengrossed: 34:22(A)