SB 1502 Summary

• Expands anchoring limitation areas in Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County by adding six new designated sections (Star Island and MacArthur Causeway, Palm Island and MacArthur Causeway, Hibiscus Island and Palm Island, Julia Tuttle Causeway and Kennedy Causeway, The Sunset Islands, and Belle Isle and Rivo Alto Island).

• Modifies anchoring restrictions to allow vessels to anchor for up to 4 hours in a single day at any time, in addition to the existing prohibition on anchoring between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

• Defines "lying between" for Biscayne Bay anchoring areas to include all area 200 yards from specified shores of the Sunset Islands and Di Lido Island.

• Limits anchoring during special events described in s. 327.48 to the lesser of the event duration or 3 days, removing previous language about public music performances and fireworks displays.

• Requires law enforcement officers to conduct national criminal background checks on vessel owners when issuing citations for violations of boating chapter laws, effective July 1, 2023.