Committee approves clarifying watercraft registration, expands grant use and updates vehicle definitions
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Summary
Senate Bill 200, first substitute, passed the committee with a favorable recommendation. The bill clarifies registration and fee language to align state and federal requirements, updates definitions to include new vessel technologies and reassigns portions of registration fees to a grant line for watercraft infrastructure improvements.
Senate Bill 200, first substitute, clarifies watercraft registration language, adjusts fee allocations and updates vessel definitions to account for newer technologies. The House committee voted to pass the substitute with a favorable recommendation.
Senator Dan McKay introduced the bill and yielded to Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, who described the measure as a clarification to align state and federal law for a boat registration grant created in prior years. Curry said the change is largely revenue-neutral: it “cuts in half in one area and then raises that other half into another area of the statute” so funds can be awarded for boating infrastructure and improvements.
The substitute also updates statutory definitions to include emerging recreational devices such as jet levity devices and e-foil style craft so registration and fees are clear for those engines and craft types.
Representative Christopherson asked about the fiscal effects; Curry said the fiscal note shows a small net reduction and explained the reclassification was necessary because of state constitutional requirements on how fees may be spent.
Representative Strong moved that the committee favorably recommend SB200, first substitute. The motion passed by voice vote.
The committee recommended the bill favorably and it will move forward with the substitute changes in place.