Senate panel adopts amendment to watercraft bill, sponsor rolls bill to 2026 calendar

The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 21 adopted a finance amendment to Senate Bill 918, which would raise the minimum age for unsupervised operation of a personal watercraft on weekends and holidays from 12 to 14 and remove a proposed insurance mandate. The sponsor, Senator Campbell, then asked that the bill be rolled to the first calendar of 2026.

The amendment (finance amendment number 1, drafting code 78‑31) was explained to the committee by Speaker Hale, who said the change would apply only on weekends and holidays because "the lake is full" during those times and cited safety as the rationale. Under the amendment, 12‑ and 13‑year‑olds could still operate a personal watercraft without adult supervision Monday through Friday, and persons of any age could operate with adult supervision.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the definition of "adult supervision" and the differences between the version adopted by the Energy and Agriculture Committee and the finance amendment. Senator Sarah Hensley confirmed that the amendment did not change the committee's definition of adult supervision. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. After the amendment passed, Senator Campbell said he did not have the votes to advance the bill further that day and asked to "roll it to the first calendar of 2026;" that request was made "without objection." No formal floor vote on final passage occurred in this committee meeting.

The bill will return in the 2026 calendar for further consideration if the sponsor pursues it.

Ending: The committee recorded the amendment and the sponsor’s request to delay further action; no final passage occurred in this meeting.