Escambia County is celebrating a legislative win with the signing of a new state law that will help authorities clean up abandoned boats from local waterways.
Escambia led the effort to reform laws that deal with derelict vessels. The effort stems from ongoing issues with boat dumping at Bayou Chico.
DeSantis has signed the Derelict Vessel Bill into law. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Escambia County advocated for HB 1103 to make the process of identifying and removing derelict vessels easier and more efficient.
Derelict vessels are an ongoing problem in Bayou Chico, which is known as a “graveyard” for abandoned boats.
The legislation allows county code enforcement to act as law enforcement officers for noncriminal derelict vessel regulations, instead of waiting on officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who are often busy with more pressing issues.
The change is expected to be a huge help in cleaning up Bayou Chico and other waterways.
Mollye Barrows is the Escambia County Government Impact Reporter at the Pensacola News Journal. She can be reached at mbarrows@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Bayou Chico boat dumping leads to state law giving counties more teeth
Reporting by Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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By Mollye Barrows, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
