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SB0918 • 2026

Boats, Boating

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69, Chapter 9, relative to personal watercraft.

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Yarbro, Camper
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 584
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not support the claim that individuals aged 12 and 13 can continue to operate personal watercraft without adult supervision. The official source material indicates an increase in age requirement from 12 to 16 years old with no exceptions for younger ages.

Boating Rules for Personal Watercraft

This bill changes the age requirement to operate personal watercraft in Tennessee and requires proof of financial responsibility for owning or operating a personal watercraft.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the minimum age to legally operate a personal watercraft from 12 to 16 years old.
  • Requires proof of financial responsibility for owning or operating a personal watercraft, similar to car insurance requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or want to operate personal watercraft in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Personal Watercraft
A small boat that is powered by an engine and can be steered and driven by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on it.
Financial Responsibility
Having proof of insurance or other financial coverage to pay for damages caused during the operation of a personal watercraft.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact fiscal impact cannot be determined due to multiple variables affecting state and local sales tax revenue and premium tax revenue.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0940

Plain English: The amendment changes the age requirement for operating personal watercraft from twelve to sixteen years old.

  • Changes the minimum age to operate personal watercraft from twelve (12) years old to sixteen (16) years old.
Amendment 2-0 to HB0940

Plain English: The amendment changes the age requirements and conditions for operating personal watercraft in Tennessee.

  • People under twelve years old can only operate a personal watercraft if supervised by an adult.
  • Twelve and thirteen-year-olds can operate a personal watercraft on weekdays, excluding legal holidays, or at any time when directly supervised by an adult.
  • Fourteen-year-olds and older can operate a personal watercraft without restrictions.
  • The amendment does not specify what 'legal holidays' are beyond referencing another section of the law.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0918

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement for personal watercraft owners and operators in Tennessee to have proof of financial responsibility.

  • Adds a new section to Title 69, Chapter 9, Part 5 of the Tennessee Code Annotated requiring anyone who owns or operates a personal watercraft on Tennessee waters to provide proof of financial responsibility.
  • The exact amounts and details of the required financial responsibility are not specified in this amendment text.
  • It is unclear what specific penalties will be enforced for non-compliance with this new requirement.
Amendment 2-0 to SB0918

Plain English: The amendment changes the age requirements and conditions for operating personal watercraft in Tennessee.

  • People under twelve years old can only operate a personal watercraft if supervised by an adult.
  • Twelve to thirteen-year-olds can operate a personal watercraft on weekdays or when supervised by an adult at any time.
  • Fourteen and older individuals can operate a personal watercraft without restrictions.
  • The amendment does not specify what 'legal holidays' are, but it refers to the list in another part of Tennessee law.
Amendment 3-0 to SB0918

Plain English: The amendment changes the start date for a new law about personal watercraft from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill's provisions from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 584

  2. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2027

  3. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 584

  4. 2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  8. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  9. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. concurred in S. am. no. 3 Ayes 82, Nays 7 PNV 0 HB0940

  10. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Message Calendar for 2/23/2026

  11. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  13. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 4

  14. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0247)

  15. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 3 - SA0470)

  16. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0440)

  17. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  18. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/12/2026

  19. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/12/2026

  20. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 4 PNV 0

  21. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  23. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 2/10/2026

  24. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 2/10/2026

  25. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 2/10/2026

  26. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  27. 2026-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 2/3/2026

  28. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 2/3/2026

  29. 2026-01-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 1/13/2026

  30. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  32. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 72, Nays 15, PNV 3

  33. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0518)

  35. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0217)

  36. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 1/13/2026

  37. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  38. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

  39. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025

  40. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  41. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/17/2025

  42. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  43. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/21/2025

  44. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/21/2025

  45. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/16/2025

  46. 2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/16/2025

  47. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  48. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  49. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  50. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  51. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2025

  52. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  53. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  54. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 1

  55. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025

  56. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to 4/1/2025

  57. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

  58. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025

  59. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/25/2025

  60. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  61. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  62. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  63. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/19/2025

  64. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  65. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  66. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  67. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  68. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  69. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  70. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  71. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Under present law, it is unlawful for any person under 12 to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee unless such person is under the direct supervision of an adult. Effective on the date that this bill becomes a law, this bill increase
s the minimum age for operating a personal watercraft from 12 to 16.

Effective July 1, 2025, this bill makes it a Class C misdemeanor offense for a person to own, operate, or to allow another person to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee unless such person is able to furnish proof of financial respo
nsibility for the operation of the personal watercraft in the amounts required for operation of a motor vehicle under the financial responsibility law. The present law minimums under the financial responsibility law are a bond, liability policy, or cash
de
posit of $65,000 or a split-limit auto policy at least $50,000 for bodily injury or death ($25,000 per person for at least two persons), and $25,000 for property damage.

ON APRIL 22, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 940, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to increase from 12 to 14 years the age that a person must be to lawfully operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee without being under the direct supervision of an adult, except that persons 12 and 13 yea
rs of age will continue to be permitted to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee without being under the direct supervision of an adult on Monday through Friday, excepting legal holidays. This amendment's provisions take effect Janua
ry
1, 2026.

ON FEBRUARY 12, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 940 FOR SENATE BILL 918, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #3, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 940, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #3 changes the effective date of the bill from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 940
By Camper

SENATE BILL 918
By Yarbro
SB0918
002890
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69,
Chapter 9, relative to personal watercraft.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 69-9-505, is amended by deleting the
language "twelve (12)" and substituting "sixteen (16)".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69, Chapter 9, Part 5, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
It is unlawful for any person to own, operate, or to allow another person to
operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee unless such person is able
to furnish proof of financial responsibility for the operation of the personal watercraft in
the amounts specified in § 55-12-102(12)(D)(i).
SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare
requiring it. Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.