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Senate panel advances bill to raise weekend personal watercraft minimum age to 14
Summary
The Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee recommended Senate Bill 19-18 to the calendar committee after adopting a technical finance amendment. The bill would raise the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft on Tennessee waters to 14 on weekends and holidays while leaving weekday rules unchanged.
Senate Finance's committee on Feb. 10 approved Senate Bill 19-18 as amended, sending the measure to the calendar committee with a positive recommendation.
Sponsor Senator Yarbrough told the committee the bill raises the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft on Tennessee waters to 14 on weekends and holidays; weekday and weekday holiday rules remain unchanged and the adult supervision requirement for younger operators remains in force. He said stakeholders — including the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Personal Watercraft Association — participated in drafting and that the change targets busier days when traffic and safety risks are higher.
The committee adopted Finance Amendment No. 2 to update the bill’s effective date so the law would take effect after adoption rather than before. Legal counsel Megan Moore told the committee the current enforcement mechanism for underage operation is a class C misdemeanor; the transcript cites a statutory reference (noted in the hearing as “699508”) and notes owners who knowingly permit a violation can also face a class C misdemeanor (a fine up to $50 or up to 30 days in jail, per the explanation given in committee).
Members asked about enforcement and proof of age. Senator Stevens asked how officers would verify a rider’s age when people typically do not carry identification on the water; sponsor and other members said enforcement would rely on observation and probable cause and that officers would proceed as they do now. Senator Rose noted many youths complete boating safety courses and suggested the committee could later consider aligning age limits and course requirements.
Senator Jagiel, who represents a district with many marinas, said he had not heard from all marina operators and announced he planned to vote no for that reason; other members said their marina contacts welcomed the change because it can reduce insurance and rental risk on busy weekends.
On a roll-call vote the committee recorded 7 ayes and 4 no's and advanced the bill to the calendar committee with a positive recommendation.
The committee discussion and legal clarification indicate the legislation changes weekend/holiday age limits, retains existing supervision requirements, and relies on existing misdemeanor penalties for enforcement. Next procedural step: placement on the Senate calendar for further consideration.
