Florida's Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government heard Senate Bill 1548 today. This legislation would prohibit overnight anchoring on navigable water near private residences and public marine infrastructure, exception certain circumstances, among other less-contentious provisions. Despite strong opposition from members of the cruising community in attendance, the committee voted favorably for the bill 6 to 0.
Eleven bills were on the 2-hour session's agenda, including contentious legislation related to fracking. Due to time constraints, only two attendees who petitioned the committee to speak were able to. Watch video of hearing (starts at minute 78:08 – a short break is taken for another bill during the hearing).
Over a dozen cruisers attended the hearing, as well as a morning Florida House hearing on a related bill at the State Capitol in Tallahassee. House Bill 7123 – At-Risk Vessels had no anchoring restrictions for or vessels that are neither considered "derelict" or at risk of becoming derelict, but, last night, an amendment was introduced to the bill which would have aligned with the anchoring restrictions in Senate Bill 1548. Several cruisers and cruising advocates spoke. The amendment was withdrawn, and the "At-Risk Vessel" bill passed unanimously without the amendment.
Other WaterwayGuide.com articles/editorials:
- Florida House 'at-risk vessel bill' passes committee, amendment withdrawn
- New FL House Bill: Good news for cruisers, or too early to tell?
- Pushing back against proposed anchoring laws in Florida
- Will many Florida anchorages be a thing of the past?
- Storm clouds on the Florida anchoring horizon
- Anchoring restrictions introduced in Florida bill
- SSCA releases Florida anchoring rights position
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