Watercraft Modifications

HB 499 updates Utah's watercraft safety rules and definitions. It clarifies terms like "beached," "moored," and "personal watercraft" while adjusting personal flotation device (PFD) requirements - exempting sailboards and racing shells, and specifying when PFDs must be worn (e.g., not on flatwater or within 50 feet of shore). The bill also revises how the Division of Outdoor Recreation designates waters as "flatwater" or "whitewater" for safety purposes. These changes directly affect boaters, rental businesses (like boat livery operators), and state agencies managing water safety.