H.B. 54
Signed into LawBoating Safety Education
HB0054S01 (Substitute)
Boating Safety Education
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Skipped
House Floor Vote
Jan 22
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 26
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 25
What This Bill Does
This bill creates an education requirement to operate a watercraft.
Key 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.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary, reviewed by Better Utah staff.
Starting January 1, 2027, anyone who operates a motorboat or sailboat in Utah must complete an annual boating safety course created by the Division of Outdoor Recreation and carry proof of completion while on the water — operating without it is an infraction. The course, designed to take under 20 minutes, covers topics like life jackets, boating under the influence, safe navigation, and aquatic invasive species; boat rental companies (called liveries) must either verify a renter's proof of completion or provide their own safety briefing before handing over a watercraft. Anyone who regularly takes a motorboat or sailboat out on Utah's lakes and rivers will need to complete this course each calendar year to stay in compliance with the law.
H.B. 54
Signed into LawBoating Safety Education
Current version: HB0054S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Skipped
House Floor Vote
Jan 22
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 26
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeSkipped
House Floor VoteJan 22
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 26
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
House ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 25
What This Bill Does
This bill creates an education requirement to operate a watercraft.
Key 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.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary, reviewed by Better Utah staff.
Starting January 1, 2027, anyone who operates a motorboat or sailboat in Utah must complete an annual boating safety course created by the Division of Outdoor Recreation and carry proof of completion while on the water — operating without it is an infraction. The course, designed to take under 20 minutes, covers topics like life jackets, boating under the influence, safe navigation, and aquatic invasive species; boat rental companies (called liveries) must either verify a renter's proof of completion or provide their own safety briefing before handing over a watercraft. Anyone who regularly takes a motorboat or sailboat out on Utah's lakes and rivers will need to complete this course each calendar year to stay in compliance with the law.
Votes
Motion: Held in Committee
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Subjects
Action History48
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:38 PM