HB 1197: Sunset Water Vessel Registration Program - Colorado

Rerevised → Final Act · 6 edits · May 27, 2026

MODERATE

This bill extends the sunset date for the vessel registration program from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2036, ensuring the program remains active for another decade. It also introduces new definitions for 'vessel' and 'vessel livery' to clarify what equipment is included or excluded and establishes specific record-keeping and age restrictions for businesses renting out boats.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by extending the program's duration and adding new regulatory requirements for vessel livery businesses regarding record retention and operator age limits.

TIMELINE

The repeal date for the vessel registration program was changed from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2036, extending the program by ten years.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added to clarify that 'vessel' includes stand-up paddleboards but excludes fishing aids, air mattresses, beach toys, and inner tubes.

A new definition for 'vessel livery' was added to define businesses that advertise and rent out vessels for payment.

REQUIREMENT

Vessel livery businesses are now required to keep records of renters, including names, addresses, and trip details, for at least three years.

A new age restriction was added preventing vessel liveries from renting motorboats to individuals under 18, with an exception for those aged 14 and older who hold a boating safety certificate.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of the new record-keeping and age-restriction rules are classified as civil infractions punishable by a $100 fine.

Revised → Rerevised · 3 edits · Apr 22, 2026

MINOR

The bill header was updated from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised' to reflect that all amendments adopted in the Second House have now been incorporated. Additionally, the Senate sponsorship list was expanded to include five new sponsors (Amabile, Coleman, Cutter, Gonzales J., Kolker, Roberts, Snyder, and Wallace), and a specific date of April 22, 2026, was added to indicate the bill reached the 3rd Reading unamended in the Senate.

TECHNICAL

Added five new names to the Senate sponsorship list, expanding the coalition of legislators supporting the bill.

Inserted a specific date (April 22, 2026) and reading status (3rd Reading Unamended) to track the bill's legislative progress.

Changed the version title from 'Revised' to 'Rerevised' to accurately describe the current state of the document after incorporating all amendments.

Reengrossed → Revised · 5 edits · Apr 21, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from a 'Reengrossed' version to a 'Revised' version, indicating it has been amended during the second reading in the Senate. The text includes significant substantive changes to boating regulations, specifically adding new restrictions on who can operate motorboats and updating legal definitions of what constitutes a 'vessel'.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new operational restrictions for individuals under eighteen and refined the legal definition of 'vessel' to explicitly exclude certain water toys.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision (subsection 5) stating that any person who violates the age restrictions for operating a motorboat commits a civil infraction punishable by a one hundred dollar fine.

Removed previous language regarding age limits and safety certificate requirements, replacing it with the new civil infraction penalty structure.

DEFINITION

Amended the definition of 'vessel' to explicitly exclude fishing aids, air mattresses, beach and water toys, and inner tubes from the list of excluded items.

Added 'stand-up paddleboards' to the list of items included in the definition of 'vessel'.

TIMELINE

Updated the document header to reflect that amendments were adopted on second reading in the Senate, with a new date of April 21, 2026.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 3 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to include additional sponsors and updated the legislative status header. A new note was added to clarify that the current summary applies only to the unamended version, with a future summary expected for the reengrossed version. No substantive policy changes regarding scope, funding, or requirements were made in this version.

TECHNICAL

Added four new House sponsors (Boesenecker, Goldstein, Lindsay, Stewart K.) to the bill's sponsorship list.

Updated the document header from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and adjusted the accompanying explanatory text to reflect the new version status.

Inserted a new informational note stating that the current summary reflects the unamended bill and a separate summary will be provided for the reengrossed version once third reading is complete.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Colorado laws to clarify the definition of a 'vessel' for boating registration, explicitly including stand-up paddleboards while excluding fishing aids and air mattresses. It establishes a new category for 'vessel livery' operators (those who rent out boats) and imposes stricter rules on them, including a requirement to keep records of renters for three years and a ban on renting motorboats to anyone under 18. The repeal date for vessel registration is also extended from 2026 to 2036.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of vessel registration requirements to include stand-up paddleboards and introduces specific regulatory obligations for businesses that rent out watercraft.

DEFINITION

Added 'stand-up paddleboards' to the list of items considered a 'vessel' requiring registration.

Created a new definition for 'vessel livery' to cover businesses that advertise and rent out vessels.

REQUIREMENT

Extended the required retention period for rental records from 30 days to three years for vessel livery operators.

ELIGIBILITY

Prohibited vessel livery operators from renting motorboats to anyone under 18 years old.

TIMELINE

Extended the sunset date for the vessel registration program from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2036.

Sunset Water Vessel Registration Program

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