SB 205

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
  ACT No. 363
 SENATE BILL NO. 205
 BY SENATOR HENSGENS
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 34:851.19 and 851.22(A), relative to boat registrations; to
3provide for vessel certificate numbers; to provide for motorboats, houseboats, and
4sailboats; to provide for approved numbering systems; to provide for documented
5vessels; to provide for federal documentation and marking of vessels; and to provide
6for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 34:851.19 and 851.22(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
9 as follows:
10§851.19. Operation of unnumbered motorboats, houseboats, or sailboats prohibited;
11exception
12Every undocumented motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat operated on the
13waters of this state shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission
14for the operation of any motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat on such waters unless the
15motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat is numbered in accordance with this Part or in
16accordance with applicable federal law or in accordance with a federally approved
17numbering system of another state, and unless the certificate of number awarded to
18the motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat is in full force and effect, and the identifying
19number set forth in the certificate of number is displayed on each side of the bow of
20the motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat as provided in this Part.
21*       *       *
22§851.22. Exemption from numbering system
23A. A motorboat shall not be required to be numbered under this Part if it is:
24(1) Already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been
25awarded to it pursuant to federal law or.
26(2) Already covered by a federally approved numbering system of another
27state; however, such boat shall not have been within this state for a period in excess
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 205  ENROLLED
1of ninety consecutive days.
2(2) (3) A motorboat from a country other than the United States temporarily
3using the waters of this state.
4(3) (4) A public vessel of the United States, a state, or a subdivision thereof.
5(4) (5) A ship's lifeboat.
6*    *       *
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.