Utah Passes New Boating Safety Education Requirements

Utah's recreational boating community will soon see new requirements following the passage of House Bill 54, legislation intended to strengthen safety and promote responsible use of the state's waterways. The measure creates a safety education requirement for operators of motorboats and sailboats with the goal of reducing accidents and improving boater awareness.

Upon Governor Cox's signature, beginning Jan. 1, 2027 individuals operating a motorboat or sailboat in Utah will be required to complete a watercraft operator safety course each year. The course, developed by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, will cover topics such as personal flotation device use, the dangers of boating under the influence, safe navigation practices and aquatic invasive species awareness.

Boaters will be required to carry proof of course completion while operating a vessel. The documentation will be valid only for the calendar year in which it is earned and will expire at the end of that year. Failure to carry proof of completion will be considered an infraction and may result in penalties.

The legislation also affects boat rental businesses, known as liveries. These businesses will be prohibited from renting watercraft to individuals who have not completed the course unless they provide a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation approved safety briefing at the time of rental.

The bill does not allocate new funding for implementation and does not change Utah's existing personal watercraft safety course requirements.

NMMA supported H.B. 54 and worked with stakeholders throughout the legislative process. The association supports efforts that promote responsible boating while maintaining access to recreation on Utah's waterways.

For additional questions please contact Emily Villanueva at [email protected].