Senate updates statutory definition of 'kayak' to reflect modern human-powered craft; bill passes unanimously

Senators on Monday approved Senate Bill 368 to revise the statutory definition of "kayak" so it describes what people currently use rather than defining the craft by what it lacks. The measure passed 47-0 on third reading.

Sponsor Senator Guthrie said the change "updates the legal definition of a kayak to match what people are actually using today," adding the bill "doesn't change any rules, safety laws, or how kayaks are classified. It just makes sure all human powered kayaks" are covered under the statute.

Several senators questioned specifics of the revised language. Senator Bullard pressed whether the phrase "human muscular effort" in the bill would discriminate against people with limited muscular ability: "For someone who doesn't have muscular abilities, are we discriminating against them?" Guthrie responded that under the current definition a paddle was required for propulsion and that the update is intended to reflect modern craft and propulsion methods.

Senator Hicks asked about single-arm paddlers and hand-crank designs; Guthrie noted that adding hand cranks in the definition would make kayaking more accessible: "By updating this definition to include hand cranks, then a 1 armed individual would be able to kayak much easier than with a double bladed paddle." Other questions touched on terminology (oarlocks, rowboat terms) and whether the bill would affect uses such as using animals or vehicle-assisted retrieval; the author said it would not make common uses illegal.

After questions and brief debate the measure was advanced and later recorded as passing unanimously.