Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB468: Generally revise laws related to watercraft.
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising laws related to watercraft; removing the validation decal requirement for watercraft; revising laws related to boating accident reporting, personal flotation devices, and right-of-way; eliminating the boating advisory council; amending sections 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, and 23-2-533, mca; repealing section 23-2-536, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO WATERCRAFT; REMOVING THE VALIDATION DECAL REQUIREMENT FOR WATERCRAFT; REVISING LAWS RELATED TO BOATING ACCIDENT REPORTING, PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES, AND RIGHT-OF-WAY; ELIMINATING THE BOATING ADVISORY COUNCIL; AMENDING SECTIONS 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, AND 23-2-533, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 23-2-536, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 23-2-502, MCA, is amended to read: "23-2-502. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the following definitions apply: (1) "Certificate of number" means the certificate issued by the department of justice, an authorized agent, as defined in 61-1-101, or a county treasurer to the owner of a motorboat or sailboat, assigning the motorboat or sailboat an identifying number and containing other information as required by the department of justice. (2) "Department" means the department of fish, wildlife, and parks of the state of Montana. (3) "Documented vessel" means a vessel that has and is required to have a valid marine document as a vessel of the United States. (4) "Identifying number" means the boat number set forth in the certificate of number and properly displayed on the motorboat or sailboat. (5) "Lienholder" means a person holding a security interest. (6) "Manufacturer" means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing or importing new and unused vessels …
Sponsors
- Kelly, Steven (R, 9) · primary sponsor
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 46 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 12, 2025): 45 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 25, 2025): 100 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 24, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Transportation, Recreation
Common questions
- What is HB468?
- HB468 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise laws related to watercraft.
- What does HB468 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising laws related to watercraft; removing the validation decal requirement for watercraft; revising laws related to boating accident reporting, personal flotation devices, and right-of-way; eliminating the boating advisory council; amending sections 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, and 23-2-533, mca; repealing section 23-2-536, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB468?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB468?
- Kelly, Steven (R, 9), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB468?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3358
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.