An Act To Require A Person Operating A Watercraft For Recreational Purposes To Ensure All Passengers Under 13 Years Of Age Wear Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Devices

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Dill and 2 co-sponsors

Requires every operator of a recreational watercraft to ensure all children under 13 wear USCG-approved PFDs.

Signed by Governor

#flotationdevices #recreation #watercraft

Summary — LD 1042 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Require A Person To Ensure All Passengers Under 13 Years Of Age Wear Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Devices

Status: Signed by the Governor (May 29, 2025)
Introduced: March 12, 2025
Committee of primary consideration: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (referred from Marine Resources)

Purpose and intent

The bill requires that a person operating a watercraft for recreational purposes ensure that every child under 13 years of age on board is wearing a United States Coast Guard (USCG)–approved personal flotation device (PFD). The stated intent is to increase child safety on recreational boats by mandating the use of approved life jackets for younger passengers.

Key provisions

Requires the operator of a recreational watercraft to ensure that all children under 13 years old aboard the vessel wear USCG‑approved personal flotation devices.

The engrossed version (as amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H‑233)) explicitly references "children under 13 years of age" and "United States Coast Guard approved" PFDs.

Enforcement, penalties and specific exemptions (if any) are not detailed in the provided documents; the fiscal notes indicate additional fine revenue may result, suggesting the bill includes enforceable penalties under existing statutes or regulatory frameworks.

Who is affected

Recreational watercraft operators (boat owners/operators) — duty to ensure compliance for passengers under 13.

Children under 13 on recreational vessels — must wear USCG‑approved PFDs.

Law enforcement and natural resource enforcement officers (e.g., Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife personnel and other marine enforcement agencies) — responsible for enforcement under existing authorities.

Courts — potential minor increase in cases related to enforcement (fiscal note indicates workload is minimal).

Fiscal and administrative impact

Fiscal notes (approved 05/02/25 and 05/22/25) estimate:

Minor cost increase to the General Fund (implementation/administration), expected to be absorbed within existing Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife resources.
Minor revenue increases to the General Fund and to other special revenue funds from collection of additional fines.
No additional funding required for the judicial system; caseload increase expected to be minimal.

Legislative history and timeline (selected)

03/12/2025: Bill received and referred to Marine Resources.

03/20/2025: Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (in concurrence).

04/16/2025: Work session; committee voted OTP‑AM (recommended Ought to Pass as Amended).

05/22/2025: Committee Amendment "A" (H‑233) adopted; bill passed to be engrossed.

05/27/2025: Passed to be enacted (ordered sent forthwith).

05/29/2025: Signed by Governor.

Notes

The provided documents do not include the full statutory text, penalty amounts, or any specified exemptions (e.g., medical reasons or vessel types). For operational details (definitions, enforcement mechanics, penalties, and effective date), consult the enacted statute text or the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.