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H. B. No. 244 *HR26/R373* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Clark
HOUSE BILL NO. 244
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO INCREASE FROM TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN THE MINIMUM AGE FOR A PERSON 2
WHO IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A COAST GUARD APPROVED PERSONAL FLOTATION 3
DEVICE WHILE ON BOARD CERTAIN MOTORBOATS, SAILBOATS OR VESSELS; TO 4
AMEND SECTION 59-21-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE 5
FROM $250.00 TO $500.00 THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE 6
MISSISSIPPI BOATING LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 59-21-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
59-21-81. (1) Every vessel shall have on board a Coast 11
Guard approved personal flotation device for each person aboard 12
such vessel, and every person * * * eighteen (18) years or younger 13
on board a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel which measures less than 14
twenty-six (26) feet in length shall wear a type I, II, or III 15
Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while such 16
motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is underway. For the purpose of 17
this section "underway" shall mean at all times except when a 18
motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is anchored, moored, or aground. 19
Every vessel shall have lights during the hours of darkness, which 20
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comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of its 21
classification. Such vessel shall not be operated unless in a 22
safe and seaworthy condition; the owner and operator shall employ 23
such safety devices as may be necessary for the safe operation of 24
such vessel, including an efficient natural or mechanical 25
ventilating system when necessary for safe operation. In addition 26
to the requirements imposed by this section, all vessels shall 27
comply with all federal regulations applicable to vessels of such 28
classification. 29
(2) For purposes of this subsection, "personal watercraft" 30
means a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet 31
pump and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, 32
standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional 33
manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. A person shall 34
not operate a personal watercraft unless each person on board or 35
being towed behind is wearing a type I, type II or type III, 36
personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast 37
Guard. 38
SECTION 2. Section 59-21-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 39
amended as follows: 40
59-21-153. Any person who violates any provision of this 41
chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to the 42
following penalties: 43
(a) For a violation of any of the provisions of 44
Sections 59-21-23(d), 59-21-29, 59-21-33, 59-21-55, 59-21-81 45
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ST: Life jackets; increase minimum age of
person required to wear on certain vessels.
through 59-21-87, and 59-21-111 through 59-21-129, by a fine not 46
to exceed * * * Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment 47
in the county jail not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both. 48
(b) For the violation of any provision of Section 49
59-21-31, by a fine of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars 50
($250.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by 51
imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed thirty (30) days, or 52
both. 53
(c) For the violation of any other provision of this 54
chapter, by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) 55
nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). 56
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 57
and after July 1, 2026. 58