UtahUtah requires yearly safety course for motorboat and sailboat operators
Starting January 1, 2027, motorboat and sailboat operators must complete a yearly safety course and carry proof, while renters without proof need a livery briefing.
What it does
The Division of Outdoor Recreation must create a course for motorboat and sailboat operators, covering topics such as flotation devices, impaired operation, and safe navigation.
Operators must carry proof that they completed the course during the current calendar year. A renter without proof may operate if the livery first gives a safety briefing.
Before renting a watercraft, a livery must receive proof of the renter’s course completion for the current year or give the renter a safety briefing.
Argument forA brief yearly course could help operators make safer choices by teaching about flotation devices, impaired operation, navigation, and invasive species.
Argument againstOperators may face a yearly course and an infraction if they operate without current proof, even when the course takes less than 20 minutes on average.
More detail
The Division of Outdoor Recreation must create a watercraft safety course. The course is for operators of motorboats and sailboats. Operators must complete the course once each calendar year. The Division must make it take less than 20 minutes on average.
Operators must carry proof of course completion while operating a watercraft. This applies to people operating motorboats and sailboats. A person renting a watercraft may operate without course proof if the livery gives the required safety briefing. Completing this course does not satisfy the separate personal watercraft safety course requirement. Proof expires the day after December 31 of the year the operator completes the course. Operating without required proof is an infraction.
A livery must require course proof or give a renter a safety briefing before renting a watercraft. This applies to businesses that rent watercraft. The Division must make rules to create and manage the briefing after notifying the commission. If the renter lacks course proof, the livery must give the briefing before renting.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 16House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 16House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 12House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 10Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 7House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 7House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 7Senate/ to House
- Mar 7Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 7Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 6Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 6Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Feb 27LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0054S01
- Feb 27LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0054S01
- Feb 26Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 26Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Major
- Feb 26LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0054S01
- Feb 26LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0054S01
- Feb 5Senate Comm - Held [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
- Jan 27Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Jan 23Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 22Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22House/ to Senate
- Jan 22House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Jan 22House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 14House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 13LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0054
- Jan 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0054
- 2025
- Dec 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0054
- Dec 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0054
- Dec 19Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 19Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Public Safety