To allow States to require payment of State fees related to boating as a condition for issuance of a vessel number and to collect such fees in conjunction with other fees related to vessel numbering.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8550
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-08T20:40:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 8550) amends federal law to give states more flexibility in collecting fees related to boating activities when issuing vessel numbers (unique registration identifiers for boats). The goal is to help states fund boating safety, access, and environmental efforts through these fees.
Key Provisions
- Expanded State Authority: States can now require payment of state fees related to boating—such as those for search and rescue operations, boating safety measures, or combating aquatic invasive species (non-native plants or animals that harm waterways)—as a condition for issuing a vessel number.
- Fee Collection: States may collect these new fees at the same time as other fees tied to vessel numbering.
- Use Restrictions: Collected fees can only support activities like improving recreational boating, boater safety, access to waterways for boaters, and addressing aquatic invasive species.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 12307 of Title 46, United States Code (which governs state issuance of vessel numbers).
- Previously, states could only charge fees directly tied to the numbering process itself.
- Now adds a new category (paragraph 3) for broader "boating-related" fees, plus new subsections (b) and (c) for collection methods and spending limits.
- Minor rephrasing of existing text for clarity (e.g., adding "are" and adjusting punctuation).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: State boating agencies gain revenue streams for safety and environmental programs without needing separate collection processes; minimal direct effect on federal agencies like the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Citizens: Recreational boaters may face additional fees during registration, but these fund directly related safety and access improvements.
- International Relations: None apparent, as the bill focuses on domestic state-level boating regulation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Agencies: Primary beneficiaries, with expanded funding options for boating programs.
- Recreational Boaters: Must pay potentially higher fees but gain from enhanced safety and waterway maintenance.
- Federal Government: Indirectly involved through oversight of vessel numbering standards.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Federalism: Strengthens state authority under federal maritime law, promoting cooperative federal-state management of recreational boating without overriding state sovereignty.
- No Major Constitutional Issues: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause powers over navigable waters; fee uses are narrowly restricted to prevent misuse.
- Political Context: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. Kiggans (R), Moore (R), and Balint (D)); targets practical state needs like invasive species control, potentially appealing across party lines in coastal and inland waterway districts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To allow States to require payment of State fees related to boating as a condition for issuance of a vessel number and to collect such fees in conjunction with other fees related to vessel numbering. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)