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LEGISLATION BILLS

Bills now filed related to boater education, please see bills listed below:   (for additional information on each Bill, click on the blue underlined bills).

  • HB 308 passed and has been signed by the governor.  This is effective immediately and in short now requires a wearable person flotation device on board all vessels including any form of paddlecraft.  It also extends the requirement that individuals under 13 years of age must wear a wearable personal flotation device for any vessel under 26 feet in length when underway.  This means paddlecrafts and sailboats as well.
  • HB 4197 Legler filed late last week (attached).  Includes changes to boater education requirements and fee structure for the course, as well as removes inconsistency from pwc operation age limits.
  • SB 2095 Wentworth - deletes age 18 exemption under 31.010 (attached)
  • HB 7 Hilderbran (Section 4-5) - makes changes to 31.106 PWC and 31.107 Motorboat operation requirements (attached)

Additional bills that affect boating:

  • SB 328 Amends Transportation Code and Alcoholic Beverage Code to include driver’s license suspension for individuals who submit to and fail a breath or blood alcohol test for BWI (operating a watercraft).
  • HB 3108 Establishes a Boating Safety Advisory Panel to conduct a study assessing current conditions and making recommendations regarding boating safety.
  • HB 3109 . 
    • Amends 31.099 PW Code heading “Prohibition on Circular Course Around Individuals Engaged in Water Activities Fisherman or Swimmer”
      • Includes waterskiing or similar activity.
    • Amends 31.106 (a) (4) No person may operate a personal watercraft within 100 50 feet  
    • Amends 31.107 increasing distance to 100 feet for all motorboats
    • Amends 31.128 to allow MSEO officer fine money be deposited to the entity of the employing agency.

Any questions about these bills or comments about the bills themselves should be directed to your  legislator or the Bill sponsor.  More information can be found at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/. 

If you have questions for TPWD, please contact Major Alfonso Campos, the State Boating Law Administrator, or Mr. Harold Stone, the TPWD Legislative Liaison

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