PRIA Logo™
IdahoH 08872026 regular legislative sessionHouse

WATER SKIING – Amends existing law to provide an exception for water skiing.

Sponsored By: STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Signed by Governor

WATER SKIING

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Boaters: mirror or early hours replace spotter

The law keeps the rule that boats towing skiers need a separate on‑board observer. It adds two exceptions. First, no observer is needed if the boat has a firmly mounted rearview wide‑angle mirror at least 4 inches by 4 inches and is inside a legally permitted slalom course. Second, no observer is needed during these times: one hour before sunrise to 9:00 a.m. from May 15 through September 10, or at any time from September 11 through May 14. In both cases, the operator must watch the skier at all times. Water ski schools and authorized tournaments keep their own existing exemptions and are not covered by this new observer exception. This is only an observer exception; towing is still banned from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise except for duly authorized events.

Changes take effect immediately on approval

The law declares an emergency. All changes to the water‑ski towing rules take effect on and after passage and approval. Boaters and enforcement must follow the new rules right away.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Dave Lent

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark Sauter

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 66 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Reported Signed by Governor on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 290 Effective: 04/02/2026

    4/2/2026

  2. Delivered to Governor at 4:12 p.m. on April 1, 2026

    4/1/2026

  3. Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor

    4/1/2026Senate

  4. Signed by President; returned to House

    4/1/2026Senate

  5. Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  6. Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate

    4/1/2026House

  7. Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling

    3/31/2026House

  8. Read third time in full – PASSED - 32-0-3

    3/31/2026Senate

  9. Read second time; filed for Third Reading

    3/27/2026Senate

  10. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading

    3/26/2026Senate

  11. Introduced, read first time; referred to: Resources & Environment

    3/19/2026Senate

  12. Received from the House passed; filed for first reading

    3/19/2026Senate

  13. Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 66-0-4

    3/18/2026House

  14. Read second time; Filed for Third Reading

    3/18/2026House

  15. Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading

    3/17/2026House

  16. Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation

    3/13/2026House

  17. Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing

    3/12/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation