From staff reports

The state Legislature passed a bill Wednesday that would ban new houseboats and high-speed boats on Weiss Lake and two other Alabama lakes.

The Senate voted 25-7 for the boat ban, which also includes Lake Harris and Lake Martin. The House passed the bill last week and it now goes to Gov. Bob Riley.

If the governor signs the bill into law, it would ban cigarette boats starting Oct. 1 by prohibiting boats more than 26 feet 11 inches long that can travel at speeds over 60 mph.

Starting July 1, 2007, new houseboats would be prohibited as would any new motorboats longer than 30 feet, 6 inches. Houseboats already on the lake would be eligible for an annual permit if they were inspected and met sewage disposal standards.

Motorboats already in use or available for sale at a marina by July 1, 2006, would be eligible for an annual permit to continue to use the lake.

Sailboats would not be affected by the bill.

In Cherokee County, several people said the ban would have little effect on Weiss Lake because the lake is too shallow for bigger boats and most of the lake traffic is fishing boats.