Boating Safety Education

HB 54 requires all Utah watercraft operators (motorboats and sailboats) to complete an annual safety course before operating on state waters. The course covers personal flotation devices, operating under the influence, safe navigation, and invasive species prevention, and must be completed in under 20 minutes. Operators must carry proof of current completion (valid until December 31 of the year they complete it), and rental businesses cannot lease watercraft without verifying this proof. Violations are classified as infractions, and the law takes effect January 1, 2027. The bill does not replace existing personal watercraft safety requirements.