2025 Advocacy
Anti-Anchoring Bill Signed into Law in Florida
This was a challenging legislative season in Florida leaving us with some wins, but also a disappointing loss.
Despite strong opposition—including multiple trips to Tallahassee and hundreds of emails and phone calls from our members—Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law HB 481, a bill that further restricts anchoring in parts of Florida.
The bill moved unusually quickly through the legislative process. After gaining early support from House leadership, the Senate bypassed its own version and passed the House's bill directly. It was then sent to the Governor and signed while the legislature was still in session, despite our urgent pleas for a veto.
What Does This Mean for Loopers?
- Expanded Mooring Field Buffers:
Anchoring is now prohibited within 300 feet of the boundaries of any mooring field statewide—tripling the previous 100-foot buffer. -
New Overnight Anchoring Ban in Biscayne Bay:
Overnight anchoring is now banned in and around the Venetian Islands and Sunset Island. We’ve attempted to show the approximate areas affected on the following screen shot from the route map on our website. While some areas (shaded in blue) were already off-limits, HB 481 expands the ban to new zones (shaded in red). Lawmakers justified the ban by citing complaints from residents about sewage dumping and nuisance behavior—both of which are already illegal. Instead of enforcing existing laws, the state has chosen to impose broader restrictions. - Local Governments Gain Anchoring Control:
The most concerning change allows municipalities in counties with populations over 1.5 million—currently Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough—to impose 30-day anchoring limits within any 6-month period. This ends the state’s exclusive authority over anchoring regulations and opens the door to a confusing patchwork of local laws. Since town boundaries aren’t always clear on the water, even responsible boaters may find it difficult to stay compliant.
We’re deeply disappointed that this legislation passed, especially in the face of substantial feedback from boaters explaining why it was unnecessary, ineffective, and counterproductive. Our coalition—which includes AGLCA, the Marine Trawler Owners Association, the Seven Seas Cruising Association, and the DeFever Cruisers Association—will now shift focus to future advocacy efforts, particularly leading into the 2026 legislative session.
A Small Victory: HB 795/SB 594 Defeated
In more positive news, we successfully opposed HB 795/SB 594, which would have created broad no-anchoring zones around Florida’s 16 commercial seaports, with an emphasis on the Port of Lake Worth. Proposed buffer zones ranged from 1,500 to 5,000 feet, threatening access to nearby recreational boating areas. After sustained opposition, including evidence presented by our coalition, the bill’s sponsor withdrew the proposal.
Progress: Anchoring Permit Bill Advances
We also supported HB 1149/SB 164 (Vessel Accountability), which passed and awaits the Governor's signature. This bill introduces a free online permitting system for boats anchored in one place for more than 14 days. Originally lacking clarity, the bill was amended—at our urging—to mirror the user-friendly process used for fishing licenses. The permit system will help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) track boat ownership and assist in addressing derelict and at-risk vessels.
Other Legislative Activity
We tracked several additional bills, most of which fall outside our core mission. Here’s a brief summary:
- SB 1388 (Boater Freedom Bill): Limits vessel stops/searches without probable cause. Passed and signed.
- HB 1285/SB 830 (Migrant Vessels): Allows FWC to dispose of vessels abandoned by migrants. Passed and signed.
- SB 1812 (Derelict Vessels): Revised derelict vessel criteria. Withdrawn.
- SB 58 (Boating Safety): Required ID cards with boating safety symbols. Withdrawn.
- HB 281 (Wake Restrictions): Banned high-wake vessel operation. Withdrawn.
- HB 289 / SB 628 (Boating Safety): Modified penalties for vessel accidents and redefined “livery vessel.” Withdrawn.
Help Us Keep Fighting
If you value the work we’re doing on your behalf, please consider contributing to our Advocacy Fund. We are still raising money to cover our lobbyist’s contract for the remainder of the year. Learn more and donate now.
Other Information
Here are additional resources AGLCA has published explaining the issues.