Bill > HB0499

This bill modifies existing Utah law regarding watercraft and safety equipment. It clarifies the definition of a "vessel" to exclude air mattresses and inner tubes, and redefines "wakeless speed" to mean a speed not exceeding five miles per hour, removing the previous phrasing that implied it was only a maximum speed. The bill also adjusts requirements for personal flotation devices (PFDs), stating that the Division of Outdoor Recreation cannot require PFDs in certain areas like flatwater, designated swimming areas, or within 50 feet of the shore (unless it's whitewater), and if a human-powered vessel doesn't require a PFD on board, individuals won't be required to wear one. Furthermore, it mandates that the Division of Outdoor Recreation designate all rivers as "flatwater" in its rules, with the exception of specific portions that can be designated as "whitewater," but no entire river system can be classified as whitewater. This bill is set to take effect on May 6, 2026.

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0499.html