Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB115: Natural Resources, Department of; certain notice upon registration of a vessel; provide
Status: Signed into law, May 11, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for performance of unattended vessel checks; to authorize restitution to the Department of Natural Resources for the cost of removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned vessels; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for performance of unattended vessel checks; to revise procedures for notice to owners of abandoned vessels; to revise procedures for removal of abandoned vessels; to provide for penalties for failure to remove an abandoned vessel from public waters or public property…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for performance of unattended vessel checks; to revise procedures for notice to owners of abandoned vessels; to revise procedures for removal of abandoned vessels; to provide for penalties for failure to remove an abandoned vessel from public waters or public property; to establish a criminal violation for failure to retrieve an abandoned vessel from public waters or public property after receipt of notice; to provide for an exception; to authorize restitution to the Department of Natural Resources for the cost of removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned vessels; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, is amended in Code Section 52-7-5, relating to numbering of vessels, requirements, and fees, by adding a new subsection to read as follows: H. B. LC 39 4491 "(d.1) The application for registration of vessels pursuant to …