Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB54: Boating Safety Education
Status: Signed into law, March 25, 2026
This bill creates an education requirement to operate a watercraft.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 12, 2026:
0 Boating Safety Education 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Michael J. Petersen Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay LONG TITLE General Description: This bill creates an education requirement to operate a watercraft. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - creates a watercraft operator safety course; - establishes guidelines for the course; - prohibits the operation of a watercraft without evidence of completion of the course; and - grants rulemaking authority to the Division of Outdoor Recreation to create and manage a safety briefing for liveries. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: This bill provides a special effective date. Utah Code Sections Affected: ENACTS: 73-18-15.6 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 73-18-15.6 is enacted to read: 73-18-15.6 . Watercraft operator safety course. (1) As used in this section, "watercraft" means a motorboat or sailboat. (2) The division shall create a watercraft operator safety course for the purpose of developing and instilling the knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills necessary for the safe and ethical operation of a watercraft. (3) The course shall include: (a) instruction on personal flotation devices as described in Subsection 73-18-8(1) ; (b) instruction on driving under the influence, as described in Title 41, Chapter 6a, Part 5, Driving Under the Influence and Reckless …
Sponsors
- Petersen, Michael J. (R, 2) · primary sponsor
- Daniel McCay (R, 18)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : House/ to Governor
- : House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from House for Enrolling
- : House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
Votes
- Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (March 6, 2026): 20 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House/ concurs with Senate amendment (March 6, 2026): 57 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation (February 26, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 26, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Held (February 4, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (January 22, 2026): 50 yea, 19 nay, passed
Subjects: Boating, Natural Resources, Transportation, Vehicle Safety Equipment, Motor Vehicles, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recreation
Common questions
- What is HB54?
- HB54 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Boating Safety Education.
- What does HB54 do?
- This bill creates an education requirement to operate a watercraft.
- What is the status of HB54?
- Signed into law as of March 25, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB54?
- Petersen, Michael J. (R, 2), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB54?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0054.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.