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What did the German Naval Bills of 1897 and 1900 authorize?

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Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany in military uniform, wearing a fur hat with a prominent skull emblem and various medals and decorations on his chest. — Wilhelm II Wilhelm II, the last German emperor.

The German Naval Bills, championed by Alfred von Tirpitz in collaboration with William II, were designed to reorganize and expand Germany's sea power.12

First Fleet Act (1898): This legislation authorized the creation of an active navy consisting of 1 flagship, 16 battleships, 8 armoured coastal ships, and a force of 9 large and 26 small cruisers, intended to be ready by 1904.1
Second Fleet Act (1900): This act established a more ambitious program to build a modern, oceangoing fleet—often referred to as the Risikoflotte or "risk fleet"—with a completion target of 1917. It authorized an active force of 2 flagships, 36 battleships, 11 large cruisers, and 34 small cruisers.1

While the Kaiser often denied that these bills were intended to challenge British naval dominance, the buildup was viewed by Britain as a direct threat, contributing to international tensions leading up to World War I.12