Arizona Enacts New Law to Increase Funding for Boating Safety
On June 22, Arizona enacted House Bill 2257 that delivers a policy win for the recreational boating community by increasing dedicated funding for boating safety.
Signed by Governor Katie Hobbs, the new law revises how Arizona distributes revenue collected through existing watercraft boat registration and recreation infrastructure fees. Under the new law, the share of revenue directed to the Law Enforcement and Boating Safety Fund increases from 35 percent to 45 percent, with the vast majority of those funds (90 percent) now dedicated specifically to boating law enforcement and safety initiatives.
The increased investment will provide counties with more reliable funding to support marine patrol officers, equipment, training, and other critical boating safety programs that help keep Arizona's waterways safe and accessible for boaters.
As implementation begins, NMMA will continue to monitor the law and its impact on Arizona's recreational boating community. For additional information, please contact Emily Villanueva, NMMA’s Manager of Western Government Relations, at [email protected].