Generally revise laws related to watercraft.
HB 468 revises several laws related to watercraft operation and registration in Montana, affecting watercraft owners and operators. The bill removes the requirement for watercraft to display a validation decal, simplifying display requirements. It also updates regulations concerning boating accident reporting, personal flotation devices, and right-of-way rules. Finally, the bill eliminates the Boating Advisory Council.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 12, 2025
Signed May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB0468_X(2).pdf
→
HB0468_X(3).pdf
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was modified to remove a redundant period at the end of the effective date clause. This is a minor technical correction that improves the formatting of the statute without altering any substantive policy, dates, or legal requirements.
TECHNICAL
Removed an extra period at the end of the effective date section to correct the sentence structure.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2025 · House Feb 25, 2025
How they voted
46–2
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 14, 2025
D
Democratic18
83% Yea
R
Republican32
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
39
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-2-2)
senate
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 25, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (100-0)
house
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Steve Kelly
RRepublican
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