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Senate passes change to personal watercraft age on weekends and holidays
Summary
House Bill 9-40, substituted on the Senate floor and amended in committee, raises the minimum authorized personal watercraft operator age to 14 on weekends and holidays; sponsor said the change mirrors staged driving restrictions and aims to improve waterway safety. The measure passed, Ayes 27, Nays 4.
Senate consideration of House Bill 9-40 (substituted for Senate Bill 918) concluded with adoption of committee amendments and floor substitution. Sponsor Senator Yarbrough said the bill "is going to raise the age to 14 on weekends on holidays," describing the change as a "safe and modest approach" intended to improve safety on waterways and comparing it to graduated driver licensing rules.
Committee finance and energy amendments were handled on the floor, including a Finance Ways and Means amendment that changed a date to 2027 and was adopted. The Senate recorded 27 Ayes and 4 Nays and declared the house bill passed; the motion to reconsider was tabled without objection. Sponsor Yarbrough also recognized family members in the gallery connected to prior legislation and memorial remarks.
