LD115 proposes a new impact fee on privately owned megayachts—defined as pleasure vessels at least 150 feet long—when they are secured to a slip in a municipality that already collects slip fees. The fee would be $10 per foot over 150 feet for each day the vessel remains at the slip, up to 30 consecutive days. Municipalities would keep 10% of the revenue and remit the rest to the state Treasurer for a newly created Megayacht Fund within the Department of Environmental Protection.
The bill also directs the department to adopt routine technical rules to administer the fee and the fund. The fund would be used in two equal parts: half for municipal harbor infrastructure and sea level rise mitigation projects, and half for public transit infrastructure, including ferries and land-based transit. The bill excludes a range of vessel types from the definition of megayacht, including commercial fishing, cruise, research, salvage/construction, freight, pre-1950, wooden, military, and academic vessels.
Impact
If enacted, LD115 would add a new state-level fee structure targeting a narrow class of large private vessels and would create a dedicated revenue stream outside the general fund. It would affect municipalities that collect slip fees, requiring them to assess and collect the fee from qualifying megayacht owners, retain a small administrative share, and forward the remainder to the state. It would also create a new fund and authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to establish implementing rules, while directing spending toward harbor resilience, sea level rise mitigation, and transit infrastructure.
Sentiment
The voting history suggests the bill was controversial and faced significant opposition. Several close votes indicate divided support within the Legislature, including narrow votes on amended reports and a failed passage vote in the Senate, followed by a larger House vote supporting an ought-not-to-pass report. Overall, the pattern points to a bill that generated interest but did not command broad consensus.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be whether it is appropriate to single out megayacht owners for a targeted fee and whether the state should create a dedicated fund for harbor and transit infrastructure using those revenues. Supporters likely viewed the measure as a way to make high-end recreational vessel owners contribute to coastal and transportation needs, while opponents likely objected to the new tax-like burden, the administrative role imposed on municipalities, or the policy of earmarking the proceeds. The close votes and eventual support for an ought-not-to-pass report suggest substantial disagreement over both the fairness and the practicality of the proposal.
An Act To Amend Title 7 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The Department Of Natural Resources And Environmental Control Fees And Assessment And To Authorize And Approve Various Dnrec Fees And Assessments.