SB 628 — Boating Safety
Last action — Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 289 (Ch. 2025-197)
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Boating Safety; Citing this act as "Lucy's Law"; revising the definition of the term “livery vessel”; revising and providing penalties for vessel collisions, accidents, and casualties; revising and providing penalties for reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring the suspension of driver licenses for boating under the influence and reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring a person convicted of a certain criminal violation or certain noncriminal infractions within a specified period to complete a boater safety education course, etc.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
140 added · 193 removed140 line(s) added, 193 removed.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 By the CommitteesCommittee on Transportation;Criminal Justice;
and CriminalSenator Justice;Martin 591-02127-25 2025628c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to boating safety;
and Senator Martin 596-02312-25 2025628c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to boating safety;
327.731, F.S.;
requiring a person convicted of a certain criminal violation or certain noncriminal infractions within a specified period to complete a boater safety education course;
amending s.
(24) “Livery vessel” means a vessel leased oror, rentedrented, vesselor Pagechartered 1to ofanother 7for CODING:consideration.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25 2025628c2 leased, rented, or chartered to another for consideration.
327.30 Collisions, accidents, and casualties.— (5)Page It1 is unlawful for a person operating a vessel involved in an accident or injury to leave the scene of the5 accidentCODING: or injury without giving all possible aid to all persons involved and making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or persons affected and subsequently complying with and notifying the appropriate law enforcement official as required under this section.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 628 591-02127-25 2025628c1 (5) It is unlawful for a person operating a vessel involved in an accident or injury to leave the scene of the accident or injury without giving all possible aid to all persons involved and making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or persons affected and subsequently complying with and notifying the appropriate law enforcement official as required under this section.
(b) If a person operating a vessel involved in an accident that results in the death of another person or an unborn child provides a false statement to an investigating law enforcement officer, the person personal injury commits a felony of the Pagethird 2degree, ofpunishable 7as CODING:provided in s.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25 2025628c2 third degree, punishable as provided in s.
Any person who violates this subsection with respect to an accident resulting in property damage only commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishablePage as2 providedof in5 s.CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 628 591-02127-25 2025628c1 punishable as provided in s.
Subsection (1)(2) of section 327.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
327.33 Reckless or careless operation of vessel.— (1)(2) ItA isperson unlawfulwho tooperates any vessel upon the waters of this state shall operate athe vessel in a recklessreasonable manner.and prudent manner, having regard for other waterborne traffic, posted speed and wake restrictions, and all other attendant circumstances so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of another person outside the vessel or to endanger the life, limb, or property of another person due to vessel overloading or excessive speed.
AThe personfailure whoto operatesoperate any vessel, or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speedvessel or in a manner asdescribed toin endanger,this orsubsection likelyconstitutes tocareless endanger,operation. life or limb, or damage the property of, or injure a person is guilty of reckless operation of a vessel.
RecklessHowever, vessel wake and shoreline wash resulting from the reasonable and prudent operation of a vesselvessel, includes,absent butnegligence, isdoes not limitedconstitute to,damage aor violationendangerment ofto s.property.
327.331(6).
(a) Does not result in an accident, the person commits a misdemeanornoncriminal ofviolation the first degree, punishable as provideddefined in s.
775.082775.08. or s.
775.083.
775.082,775.083 or s.
775.083, or s.
775.083, Pageor 3s. of 7 CODING:
775.084.
Page 3 of 5 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25591-02127-25 2025628c22025628c1 orSection s.5.
775.084.
Section 5.
PresentSection subsections782.072, (2), (3), and (4) of section 327.731, Florida Statutes, areis redesignatedamended asto subsectionsread: (3), Page 4 of 7 CODING:
782.072 Vessel homicide.— Page 4 of 5 CODING:
Show all 66 changed lines (26 more)
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25591-02127-25 2025628c22025628c1 (4),(1) andAs (5),used respectively,in athis new subsection (2) is added to that section, andthe subsectionterm: (1) and present subsection (3) of that section are amended, to read:
327.731 Mandatory education for violators.— (1) A person convicted of a criminal violation under this chapter, convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating accident, or convicted of a two noncriminal infractions infraction as specified in s.
327.73(1)(h)-(k), (m), (o), (p), and (s)-(y), the infractions occurring within a 12-month period, must:
(a) Enroll in, attend, and successfully complete, at his or her own expense, a classroom or online boating safety course that is approved by and meets the minimum standards established by commission rule;
(b) File with the commission within 90 days proof of successful completion of the course;
and (c) Refrain from operating a vessel until he or she has filed proof of successful completion of the course with the commission;
and (d) Pay a fine of $500.
The clerk of the court shall remit all fines assessed and collected under this paragraph to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund to support law enforcement activities.
(2) A person convicted of a criminal violation under this chapter, convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating accident, or convicted of two noncriminal infractions as specified in s.
327.73(1)(h)-(k), (m), (o), (p), and (s)-(y), Page 5 of 7 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25 2025628c2 occurring within a 12-month period, must pay a fine of $500 and complete a boater safety education course that meets the requirements of s.
327.395.
The clerk of the court shall remit all fines assessed and collected under this subsection to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund to support law enforcement activities.
(4)(3) The commission shall print on the reverse side of the defendant’s copy of the boating citation a notice of the provisions of this section.
Upon conviction, the clerk of the court shall notify the defendant that it is unlawful for him or her to operate any vessel until he or she has complied with this section, but failure of the clerk of the court to provide such a notice shall not be a defense to a charge of unlawful operation of a vessel under subsection (3) (2).
Section 8.
Section 782.072, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
782.072 Vessel homicide.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
(b)(2) A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided Pagein 6s. of 7 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for CS for SB 628 596-02312-25 2025628c2 in s.
Section 9.8.
Page 75 of 75 CODING:
Show all 66 changed rows (26 more)
View plain text versions (3)
- S 628 c1 View text pdf
- S 628 c2 View text Current pdf
- Introduced S 628 Filed pdf
Action History
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Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 289 (Ch. 2025-197)
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Substituted CS/CS/CS/HB 289
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Read 2nd time
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Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/30/25
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 19 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/08/25, 2:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
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CS/CS by Transportation read 1st time
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Now in Fiscal Policy
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Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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CS/CS by Transportation; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
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CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
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On Committee agenda-- Transportation, 03/12/25, 8:30 am, 37 Senate Building
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Now in Transportation
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Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
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Introduced
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CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
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On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 03/04/25, 2:00 pm, 37 Senate Building
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Referred to Criminal Justice; Transportation; Fiscal Policy
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Filed
Sponsors
- Jonathan Martin · Primary
- Criminal Justice · Primary
- Transportation · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 161 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
- Martin, Jonathan Republican
- Criminal Justice
- Transportation
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (161)
161 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 161 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (19)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Ingoglia | — | Yea |
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Yea |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Yea |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Boyd, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Burton, Colleen | Republican | Yea |
| Calatayud, Alexis | Republican | Yea |
| Gaetz, Don | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Collins | — | Yea |
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Yea |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| McClain, Stan | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Yea |
| Wright, Tom A. | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| No Party Affiliation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Smith, Carlos Guillermo | Democrat | Yea |
| Pizzo, Jason W. B. | No Party Affiliation | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Not Voting |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 628 do?
- Boating Safety; Citing this act as "Lucy's Law"; revising the definition of the term “livery vessel”; revising and providing penalties for vessel collisions, accidents, and casualties; revising and providing penalties for reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring the suspension of driver licenses for boating under the influence and reckless or careless operation of a vessel; requiring a person convicted of a certain criminal violation or certain noncriminal infractions within a specified period to complete a boater safety education course, etc.
- Who sponsors SB 628?
- SB 628 is sponsored by Martin, Jonathan (Republican), Criminal Justice, and Transportation.
- What is the current status of SB 628?
- This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 628?
- Track SB 628 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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