SB 205 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

BOATS/BOATING: Provides for boat registrations. (8/1/26) (EN -$14,850 SD RV See Note)

SB 205 requires all motorboats, houseboats, and sailboats operated in Louisiana to display a unique number on the bow, issued through a state or federally approved numbering system. It prohibits operating unnumbered boats unless covered by federal documentation, a valid number from another state (for under 90 days), or specific exemptions like foreign vessels, U.S. government boats, or lifeboats. The bill updates Louisiana law to align with federal requirements for vessel marking and documentation. This directly affects recreational boat owners and operators who must comply with numbering rules to legally use state waters.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB205 Original → SB205 Act 363 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the official title of the legislation to reflect its enactment as Act No. 363. It clarifies the exemption rules for boat numbering by specifying that foreign boats are only exempt if they are temporarily in the state, and it adds a specific exemption for ships' lifeboats. The substantive policy regarding who must number their boats remains largely the same, but the text is now formatted as an enrolled, signed law.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding boat registration requirements remains consistent with the original draft, but the applicability of exemptions for foreign vessels is now explicitly limited to temporary visits.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific exemption for ships' lifeboats from the state boat numbering system.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that motorboats from countries other than the United States are exempt from numbering only if they are temporarily using state waters.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header to reflect the final enrolled status (Act No. 363) and removed draft metadata.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2026 · House May 13, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 39

Mar 18, 2026

D Democratic11

8 Yea 3

72% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 7, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors