Georgia CommonsHB1266: HB1266 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
A Georgia House bill would change the rules for the Ogeechee River by removing the current 9.9 horsepower motor limit and instead banning personal watercraft, like jet skis, on a stretch of the river.
In plain language
Georgia law currently limits motors on vessels operated on part of the Ogeechee River, from where it crosses State Highway 119 to its point of origin, to no more than 9.9 horsepower, with an exception for law enforcement boats. This bill rewrites that rule in Georgia's watercraft law (O.C.G.A. § 52-7-13). Instead of a horsepower cap, the revised law would prohibit personal watercraft, defined elsewhere in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 52-7-8.2), from being used on that same stretch of the river. Law enforcement craft remain exempt. The bill also repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change. No separate effective date is listed beyond the standard process for a signed bill.
What the bill does
- Removes the existing 9.9 horsepower motor limit for vessels on the designated stretch of the Ogeechee River.
- Replaces that limit with a ban on personal watercraft, such as jet skis, as defined under O.C.G.A. § 52-7-8.2, on the same stretch of river.
- Keeps the exception allowing law enforcement craft to operate on that stretch regardless of the new restriction.
- Repeals any other Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this change.
Who it affects
Boaters and personal watercraft owners who use the Ogeechee River between State Highway 119 and the river's point of origin, as well as local law enforcement agencies that patrol that stretch, which remain exempt from the new restriction.
Why it matters
People who currently ride jet skis or other personal watercraft on this part of the Ogeechee River would no longer be allowed to do so, even though boats with larger motors than 9.9 horsepower would no longer be restricted by horsepower. This changes what kinds of watercraft can legally use that stretch.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises subsection (c) of O.C.G.A. § 52-7-13, which governs boating safety zones and motor restrictions, specifically for the Ogeechee River stretch between State Highway 119 and its point of origin.
- The revised text drops the 9.9 horsepower motor cap and instead bars personal watercraft, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 52-7-8.2(2), from that stretch.
- Law enforcement craft remain exempt from the restriction under the revised subsection.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard provision ensuring the new rule takes precedence.
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 regulations
- Ogeechee River
- personal watercraft rules
- watercraft law