More of the money from Arizona watercraft registration fees will go to county boating law enforcement. The law also replaces a yearly commission-set formula with fixed percentages for 8 named counties.
Official title: watercraft fund; distribution of monies
- September 12, 2026
What changes
Before65% of covered watercraft registration revenue stayed in the watercraft licensing fund, and 35% was split among other funds.
Now55% stays in the watercraft licensing fund, and 45% is split among other funds.
BeforeOf that split share, 15% went to the state lake improvement fund and 85% went to the law enforcement and boating safety fund.
NowOf that split share, 10% goes to the state lake improvement fund and 90% goes to the law enforcement and boating safety fund.
BeforeThe state treasurer paid the law enforcement and boating safety fund to eligible counties using a formula the commission set each year. The commission could weigh factors such as boating use, water acreage, safety records and accident data.
NowThe law sets fixed shares: Mohave 49.22%, La Paz 12.5%, Coconino 10.45%, Maricopa 9.65%, Yuma 9.3%, Gila 7.35%, Apache 1.03% and Navajo 0.5%. The yearly commission formula and its list of factors are removed.
Who it affects
- People who use Arizona waterways
- Boat owners who pay watercraft registration fees (the fees themselves do not change)
- County boards of supervisors and county law enforcement agencies in Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo and Yuma counties
- The department that administers the watercraft licensing fund
- The commission that previously set the county allocation formula
- The state treasurer
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- How many dollars each fund or county will receive under the new percentages
- How the new county percentages were chosen
- Whether any eligible county was left off the fixed list, and what would happen to it
- How the smaller share for the watercraft licensing fund and the state lake improvement fund will affect their programs
- Whether watercraft registration fee amounts change (this law does not change them)
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.