HB922: HB922 Georgia Boater Bill of Rights; enact

House Bill 922, called the "Georgia Boater Bill of Rights," does two main things. First, it adds a new section to Georgia's motor vehicle code barring any state agency or local government from restricting the use or sale of a motor vehicle or watercraft because of the energy source that powers it, such as gasoline, diesel, electricity, hydrogen, or solar power. Second, it creates the Georgia Boating Access Task Force inside the Department of Natural Resources. The task force would coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies on boating safety rules, evaluate public boating access points and recommend fixes for inadequate access, and work to control aquatic invasive species while preserving access to the water. The task force would have eight members, mostly appointed by the Governor, serving four year terms without pay beyond standard travel and expense reimbursement. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Bars state agencies and local governments from restricting the use or sale of a motor vehicle or watercraft based on its energy source (gasoline, diesel, electricity, hydrogen, or solar power).
• Creates the Georgia Boating Access Task Force within the Department of Natural Resources to promote safe and adequate boating access statewide.
• Directs the task force to coordinate boating safety enforcement, evaluate existing boat access points, and identify fixes for inadequate access.
• Assigns the task force to address threats from aquatic invasive species while keeping waterways open to boaters.
• Sets the task force's makeup at eight members, mostly appointed by the Governor, serving four year terms without pay except for standard travel expense reimbursement.
• Gives the commissioner of natural resources authority to write rules to carry out the new boating access task force provisions.

The bill affects local governments and state agencies that might otherwise regulate vehicles or boats by fuel or power type, owners and sellers of motor vehicles and watercraft, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, county and municipal associations, and boating industry stakeholders appointed to the new task force.

Local governments and state agencies would lose the ability to limit vehicles or boats based on how they are powered, which could affect future rules on things like electric boat motors. The new task force could also lead to changes in where and how Georgians access public waterways for boating.

• Section 1 titles the bill the 'Georgia Boater Bill of Rights.'
• Section 2 adds Code Section 40-1-10, defining 'energy source,' 'motor vehicle,' and 'watercraft,' and barring state or local restrictions on vehicles or watercraft based on energy source.
• Section 3 adds a new article (Code Sections 52-7-90 through 52-7-93) to Title 52 establishing the Georgia Boating Access Task Force under the Department of Natural Resources.
• Task force duties include coordinating boating safety rules, evaluating public access points, and addressing aquatic invasive species (Code Section 52-7-91).
• The task force has eight members, including the commissioner as chairperson and Governor-appointed representatives and industry experts, serving four year terms (Code Section 52-7-92).
• Members serve without pay but receive the same daily expense allowance and travel reimbursement as members of the General Assembly, unless already compensated as a state employee.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-12House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-04-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-04-04House Hopper (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

• boating access
• electric vehicles
• local government authority
• Department of Natural Resources
• watercraft regulation