Relating to regulation of vessels and equipment on public lakes by common interest communities and certain nonprofit corporations

This bill relates to the regulation of vessels and equipment on public lakes. Notwithstanding existing laws to the contrary, the bill allows a common interest community that is adjacent to or abutting a public lake to establish policies for the common interest community’s owners, and the owners’ guests, regarding the operation of vessels, including but not limited to equipment specification, upon the public lake. The bill allows the common interest community to utilize private buoys and other safety-related installations to communicate the relevant policies if the use is not inconsistent with Code chapter 462A (water navigation regulations) or rules adopted by the natural resource commission. Notwithstanding existing laws to the contrary, the bill provides that an association may establish policies for the association’s members, and the members’ guests, regarding the operation of vessels, including but not limited to equipment specification, upon the public lake. The bill also allows an association to utilize private buoys and other safety-related installations to communicate the relevant policies if the use is not inconsistent with Code chapter 462A (water navigation regulations) or rules adopted by the natural resource commission. The bill defines “association” as a nonprofit corporation incorporated under chapter 504, named as an association, and that manages a community located on a subdivision that is adjacent to or abuts a public lake. The bill also defines “public lake” to mean any lake located within the boundaries of this state that is a navigable body of water and that is lawfully accessible by the general public. The terms “common interest community”, “member”, “rule”, “bylaws”, “rules and regulations”, and “unit owner” are also defined in the bill.