Bill > HB619

This bill, known as "Hannah's Law", expands the existing requirement for children to wear personal flotation devices (life jackets) by increasing the age threshold from under seven to under twelve years old. The law now applies not just to children on watercraft, but also to children wading or swimming in navigable public waters that are more than three feet deep. Anyone who allows a child under twelve to be on a watercraft or in deep public waters without a Coast Guard-approved life jacket can be charged with a class C misdemeanor. The law provides two exceptions: when the child is in a fully enclosed part of a watercraft that prevents falling out, or when the child is being supervised by a lifeguard. This expanded safety measure aims to reduce the risk of drowning for children by ensuring they wear appropriate flotation devices in potentially dangerous water environments.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB619&year=2025&code=R