House Bill 468 proposes significant changes to Montana's watercraft laws, primarily by eliminating the requirement for a validation decal for motorboats, sailboats, and personal watercraft. The bill removes the validation decal requirement from various sections of the law, specifically in Section 23-2-511, which now only mandates a valid registration decal. Additionally, it repeals Section 23-2-536, thereby eliminating the Boating Advisory Council, which streamlines the regulatory framework for boating activities.

The bill also introduces updates to boating accident reporting and personal flotation device regulations. It raises the reporting threshold for accidents resulting in property damage from $100 to $2,000 and modifies personal flotation device requirements by removing specific type designations, instead requiring operators and riders to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved device. Furthermore, the bill allows the department to use allocated funds for boating facilities without needing to consider recommendations from the now-repealed Boating Advisory Council. These revisions aim to simplify boating regulations while enhancing safety and compliance on Montana's waterways, with the act set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

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(2): 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(3): 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(4): 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(5): 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
HB0468_X(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_X(10): 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_X(11): 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_X(12): 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_X(2): 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_X(3): 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_X(4): 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_X(5): 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_X(6): 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_X(7): 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_X(8): 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_X(9): 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_X: 23-2-502, 23-2-511, 23-2-512, 23-2-524, 23-2-525, 23-2-527, 23-2-531, 23-2-533