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SF 2735 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Abandoned boats removal and disposal requirement provision

This bill requires owners of neglected boats on Minnesota waters or adjacent property to remove or fix them within 14 days after receiving a notice. If owners fail to act, they face criminal misdemeanor charges, civil penalties (2-5 times removal costs), and lose fishing/watercraft licenses until costs are paid. The state can seize and dispose of boats deemed abandoned after the 14-day period, with officials required to notify owners first. It directly affects boat owners who leave vessels inoperable, stranded, or unattended near public waters.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal misdemeanor for boat abandonment, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice system. Penalizes minor regulatory violation with criminal charges.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires removal of abandoned boats to prevent water pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems, aligning with natural resource conservation and pollution control.90% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 4 edits · Apr 3, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, reflecting a shift from a 'boat' focus to a broader 'watercraft' definition. This change expands the law's applicability to include various types of water vehicles, not just traditional boats, while also adding specific exemptions for historically significant or tourism-related sunken vessels.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from specifically targeting 'boats' to covering all 'watercraft,' thereby broadening the range of vessels subject to removal and disposal requirements. Additionally, new exceptions were introduced to exclude certain sunken watercraft of historical or commercial significance.
DEFINITION

The term 'boat' was replaced with 'watercraft' throughout the text to broaden the definition of covered vessels.

EXCEPTIONS

New provisions were added to exempt previously sunk watercraft of historical significance or those used for scuba diving and commercial tourism that do not pose safety or environmental risks.

ENFORCEMENT

The scope of unauthorized placement was updated to include public accesses and public lands, not just general waters or adjacent property.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and section headers were updated to reflect the change from 'Introduction' to '1st Engrossment' and the terminology shift from 'boat' to 'watercraft'.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass and re-referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Judiciary and Public Safety
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Judy Seeberger
Judy Seeberger
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
MN
41
Co
Photo of Ann Johnson Stewart
Ann Johnson Stewart
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
MN
45