Published by Paul Ivinskas · Politically neutral. No endorsements.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Utah, on the record.

Same sections for every candidate. Every fact linked to its source. How we stay neutral →

Utah bill tracker

H.B. 499: Watercraft Modifications

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: House

Saved official records and Ledger coverage. The outcome below is from the Legislature’s own step list.

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill amends provisions related to watercraft, personal flotation devices, and water designations.

  • Amends definitions related to vessels
  • Amends provisions related to requirements to wear or possess a personal flotation device
  • Amends requirements related to the Division of Outdoor Recreation designating waters as flatwater or whitewater
  • Makes technical changes

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Boating · Natural Resources · Department of Natural Resources · Administrative Rulemaking and Procedures · Transportation · Division of Recreation

How it moved

  1. · House1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Housefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on H.B. 499, dated February 10, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

  • State revenue: To the extent that this bill results in fewer citations being issued and paid, state revenues could decrease by $16 per case to the General Fund and $38 per case to the Court Security Account.
  • State expenditures: Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state expenditures.
  • Local government: Enactment of this bill could reduce revenue to local governments by about $66 per case for fines and fees. This bill could also reduce justice court court-processing costs by an unknown amount.
  • Individuals and businesses: To the extent that this bill eliminates certain violations from statute, affected individuals would no longer pay penalties of about $120 per case; however, the total amount is unknown.

Bill overview

Sponsor: R. Neil Walter

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date:

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.