PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a Senate bill known as the ‘Boater Freedom Act’ during a press conference in Panama City Monday, saying the legislation will allow “Florida boaters to be free from undue government interference,” amongst other things.

The bill, SB 1388, prevents jurisdictions in the Sunshine State from placing bans on gas boats, prevents boat safety inspections without probable cause, and directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to create a five-year safety inspection decal program linked to vessel registration.

Before the bill was signed, DeSantis said law enforcement was allowed to conduct boat inspections randomly as “safety compliance” checks, explaining that this “unnecessarily created friction between the community and some folks in law enforcement.”

The bill will also maintain statewide protections of wake speeds, manatee zones and seagrass areas, according to the governor’s office.

As for the creation of the safety inspection decal program, DeSantis’ office said the the bill will direct FWC to work with tax collectors to proactively provide a “Florida Freedom Boater” decal at registration. The decal will indicate to law enforcement that a boater has taken the necessary steps to maintain proper safety requirements.

“Florida is the boating and fishing capital of the world—and the Boater Freedom Act will ensure that this remains the case,” DeSantis said during the press conference.

DeSantis’ office said the bill is the culmination of the governor’s boater freedom initiative proposal announced in February of this year.

On Monday, DeSantis also signed HB 735, which provides additional funding for public boat ramps, parking and marina programs through FWC. The governor’s office said these funds will “ensure greater access to public waters.”

The Boater Freedom Act and HB 735 will both take effect July 1.