SB 35 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Vessel Registration; amends boater registration fees and their distribution

SB 35 consolidates Alabama's current vessel registration fees (a $5 fixed fee plus a length-based fee) into a single annual fee structure. It directly affects all boat owners in Alabama who register their vessels, as the bill replaces the previous two-fee system with one unified fee. The key mechanism specifies that $5 from each registration fee goes to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, while the remainder (excluding the $2 processing fee) funds the State Water Safety Fund for administrative costs. The bill also updates code language for clarity but does not change the staggered registration system or vessel classification rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Dec 17, 2025 Signed Feb 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · Feb 10, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled act, moving from a draft introduction to an official version ready for signing. The text includes minor formatting corrections and clarifies that registration fees collected from specific vessel categories must be deposited into a State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, while remaining funds go to the State Water Safety Fund. It also details how registration renewal months are assigned based on the first letter of the vessel owner's last name.
Scope change
The scope remains focused on amending Alabama Code sections regarding vessel registration fees and distribution, with no change to the overall applicability of the law.
TECHNICAL

The bill status changed from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled', indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is ready for the Governor's signature.

Minor formatting and text cleanup were applied throughout the document to correct spacing and remove redundant or conflicting language.

FISCAL

A new requirement was added to remit five dollars from each registration fee to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, separating this specific allocation from the general State Water Safety Fund.

REQUIREMENT

Detailed rules were added specifying exactly which months vessel owners must renew their registration based on the first letter of their last name.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 232
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 22
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (County and Municipal Government)
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Wes Kitchens
Wes Kitchens
RRepublican
AL
9