Georgia CommonsHB 1266: Watercraft; use of certain motors on vessels being operated on the Ogeechee River; repeal a provision
Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date 2026-07-01
House Bill 1266 would change the rule on which watercraft can be used on the upper Ogeechee River, replacing a horsepower limit with a ban on personal watercraft like jet skis.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-13) bars any motor over 9.9 horsepower from being used on the Ogeechee River between its origin point and where it crosses State Highway 119, except for law enforcement boats. House Bill 1266 removes that horsepower cap entirely. In its place, the bill bans personal watercraft, defined by reference to another section of Georgia's boating law (O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-8.2), such as jet skis and similar small motorized craft, from operating on that same stretch of river. Law enforcement vessels remain exempt. The change applies only to that specific segment of the Ogeechee River and takes effect once the Governor signs it, with all conflicting prior laws repealed.
What the bill does
- Removes the existing 9.9 horsepower limit on motors used on the upper Ogeechee River.
- Replaces the horsepower limit with a ban on personal watercraft, using the definition already in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-8.2), on that same river stretch.
- Keeps the exemption for law enforcement vessels operating on the river.
- Applies only to the section of the Ogeechee River between State Highway 119 and the river's point of origin.
- Repeals any prior laws that conflict with the new rule.
Who it affects
Boaters and personal watercraft users, such as jet ski operators, on the upper Ogeechee River, along with anglers, kayakers, and other recreational users who share that stretch of water. Law enforcement agencies patrolling the river remain unaffected by the new restriction.
Why it matters
Boats with motors just over 9.9 horsepower that were previously banned could now legally operate on this stretch of the Ogeechee River, while jet skis and other personal watercraft that were previously allowed would now be banned, changing who can use the water and how.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises subsection (c) of O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-13, striking the 9.9 horsepower motor limit for the Ogeechee River segment.
- Section 1 inserts a new restriction banning personal watercraft, as defined in O.C.G.A. Section 52-7-8.2, from that same river segment.
- The restriction continues to apply only between the river's point of origin and where it crosses State Highway 119.
- Law enforcement crafts remain exempt from the restriction.
- Section 2 repeals any existing laws that conflict with this change.
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2026-07-01
- Act 451
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
- Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
- Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2026
164 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 6 absent)
- Senate voteMarch 25, 2026
47 yea, 1 nay (4 not voting, 2 absent)
Topics
- boating law
- Ogeechee River
- personal watercraft rules
- watercraft regulations