NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc.
09/19/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/18/2025 23:14
California Wraps Up 2025 Session Addressing Aquatic Invasive Species and Other Boating Priorities
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The California State Legislature passed several key bills ahead of its session ending on September 13 - including measures helping to address the spread of Golden Mussels (AB149) and allow for the sale of E15 on the California marketplace (AB30).
The spread of Golden Mussels in California has caused agencies to close boater access - or severely limit it - at several public waterways in California. AB149 - which was signed into law on Sept. 18 - is a step in the right direction, providing statutory authority for agencies and resources to help stop and reverse the spread of Golden Mussels.
AB149 expands the Mussel Fee Sticker to include Golden Mussels and allows for the fee to potentially increase up to $42. The fee will be determined at a later date by the appropriate regulatory body and will go through a public process. Recreational boaters and anglers are often in the front of the line to fund and support critical conservation programs that maintain access. While NMMA supported this legislation to help address this urgent issue, NMMA reiterated to the bill sponsors that a more comprehensive fix is needed and cannot fall solely on the backs of California's recreational boaters.
Another key bill (AB30) that NMMA actively engaged on now heads to the Governor's desk - a bill that would immediately legalize the sale of E15 in California. While NMMA is supportive of measures that would reduce the overall cost of fuel, without adequate protection for boaters and consumers, NMMA has opposed this bill and urged Governor Newsom to veto the measure. Due to the harmful effects of E15 on marine engines, lack of consumer awareness, and rampant mislabeling, NMMA voiced strong concerns about allowing E15 to be sold in California. Governor Newsom has until mid-October to sign or veto the bill.
For more information or to learn more about the marine industry's priorities in California, please contact Clay Crabtree, NMMA's Senior Director of Public Policy, at [email protected].
NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc. published this content on September 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 19, 2025 at 05:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]