This bill proposes significant changes to Montana's watercraft regulations by eliminating the requirement for validation decals for motorboats, sailboats, and personal watercraft. It amends various sections of the law, including Section 23-2-511, which now only requires the display of a valid registration decal, and repeals Section 23-2-536, which detailed the validation decal process. The bill also aims to streamline boating accident reporting, raising the threshold for reporting property damage from $100 to $2,000, and mandates that operators involved in accidents provide their identification to affected parties.

Additionally, the bill removes the Boating Advisory Council, simplifying the regulatory framework for watercraft operation. It introduces new language to clarify operators' responsibilities, such as assisting others in accidents and ensuring proper vessel registration. The updated regulations also require operators and riders of personal watercraft to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices. The proposed changes are designed to enhance safety and compliance while reducing bureaucratic burdens on boat owners, and the bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, 23-2-533
HB0468_1(1): 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, 23-2-533
HB0468_1: 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, 23-2-533