State marine trades associations are on guard 24/7, watching for legislative and regulatory actions that could negatively impact member dealers and their customers, as well as other marine businesses in their areas.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is initiating a cost-cutting effort, among other proposals, and there are rising expectations that many state agencies, including those that play significant roles in boating and fishing, will face scrutiny.

The governor’s cost cutting could lead to reducing or dismantling some agencies altogether. Created by executive order, the new Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency task force reportedly aims to abolish 70 boards and commissions, use artificial intelligence to further scrutinize state agencies and their operations, and claims to return unused federal funds to the federal government. Return federal money, seriously?

Things could get heated fast. The Florida legislature is in session, and the state’s nine marine industry associations, under the banner of the Marine Industries Association of Florida, are on the ground through veteran lobbyist Missy Timmons, who is monitoring proposed legislation that could have a direct industry impact.

“Boating is a hot topic this year,” Timmons says, “and we’ll provide association members weekly legislative updates and calls to action whenever deemed necessary. Our reports will likely be lengthy, as there are already boating safety bills, anchoring bills, vessel accountability bills, DUI bills and a boater freedom bill, and more will likely be submitted. That doesn’t mean all are bad, but we must carefully analyze and monitor every one [of them] to determine industry impact.”

Here are a few examples that might raise your eyebrows.

• There are two bills resulting from an accident that happened in Miami. The bills increase penalties for general boating violations and boating under the influence, including provisions for boating safety and changes in definitions. Even more changes are anticipated to these bills, as they are expected to move forward.

• Anchoring is another hot-button issue. Two proposed bills would allow ports to apply to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to prohibit anchoring or mooring within an area up to 5,000 feet. Such restrictions could have serious impacts on boating in Palm Beach, Bay County, Fort Pierce, Tampa Bay and many other areas.

• House Bill 1149 is a vessel-accountability proposal that aims to improve long-term storage issues in the Sunshine State. The bill creates a free permit for vessel owners and operators and adds violations and penalties. Included in the proposal is the expansion of the Derelict Vessel Prevention and Voluntary Turn-In programs. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has already made several presentations.

• Then there’s “Driving and Boating Under the Influence — Trenton’s Law.” This bill is in response to an accident that resulted in death and adds “impaired substances” to the statute for driving and boating. It also has increased penalties and provides for diversion programs.

• The “Boater Freedom Act” includes Clean Marine manufacturers within the Clean Marine Program; authorizes grants for the construction and maintenance of publicly owned parking for tow vehicles and trailers; prohibits certain officers from performing vessel stops or boarding without probable cause or specified knowledge; requires the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in coordination with the Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to create a “Florida Freedom Boater” safety inspection decal for specified purposes.

• According to Timmons, House Bill 575 and Senate Bill 608 will update statutes to use the term “Gulf of America.” Companion Senate Bill 1058 would update educational materials to read “Gulf of America.”

Meanwhile, in Illinois…

Anticipating a possible lack of funding, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker postponed construction of the critical Brandon Road project that could keep invasive Asian carp from decimating the $7 billion annual Great Lakes fishery upon which hundreds of dealers in the eight states bordering those lakes depend.

The long-awaited project, priced at $1-plus billion, is designed to stop carp from moving up the Illinois Waterway system and getting into Lake Michigan at Chicago. If that were to happen, the four breeds of Asian carp, which can grow up to 100 pounds and are voracious eaters, would surely decimate native Great Lakes fish populations and wreck the fishing and boating industries.

A groundbreaking ceremony had been scheduled for last week but was abruptly cancelled. It’s notable that Pritzker previously dragged his feet in approving Illinois’ funding for the effort. The project at Brandon Road Lock and Dam is part of a decades-long infrastructure effort between Illinois, Michigan and the federal government to deter the upstream movement of carp.

While $340 million has been allocated for phase one of the project, officials are worried about going any further without assurances that critical funding for the next two phases won’t be held up.

Natalie Phelps Finnie, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, now has expressed concerns about starting construction at Brandon Road. In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she said the state would postpone a closing on property rights for the first phase and instead request a potential closing in May “to allow Illinois to receive written assurances of federal funding. We stand ready to move forward if the administration provides the certainty to fund this critical project.”

The Des Plaines River at Brandon Road had been identified as a “critical pinch point” where experts hope layered technologies will deter the upstream movement of carp, which are currently held back primarily by a series of electrical barriers. The boating industry — manufacturers and dealers, alike — must monitor this situation.

If you regularly read Dealer Outlook, you know the critical role our state and local marine trade associations play in the welfare of your dealership. No dealer could monitor and react to the myriad legislative and regulatory proposals that can come flying at them all year long if an MTA doesn’t have their backs.

If you are not supporting your state and local MTA with your membership, you are operating short-sighted.