HB 940

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.