Amends existing law to provide an exception for water skiing.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 569 BY RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO WATER SKIING; AMENDING SECTION 67-7024, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE2 AN EXCEPTION TO THE OBSERVER REQUIREMENT AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORREC-3 TIONS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.4

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:5

SECTION 1. That Section 67-7024, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby6 amended to read as follows:7 67-7024. WATER SKIING. (1) It Except as provided in subsection (2) of8 this section, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vessel having in9 tow or otherwise assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or a similar10 contrivance to operate or propel the same upon on or above any waters of the11 state of Idaho unless that vessel shall be occupied by at least one (1) other12 competent person who shall act as an observer. This subsection shall not ap-13 ply to vessels used by representatives of duly constituted water ski schools14 in the giving of instruction or to vessels used in duly authorized water ski15 tournaments, competitions, expositions, or trials.16 (2) Vessels having in tow or otherwise assisting a person on water skis17 or a similar contrivance to operate or propel the same on or above any waters18 of the state of Idaho shall be exempt from the observer requirement provided19 for in subsection (1) of this section provided that:20 (2) (a) Vessels The vessel is operating within a regulation legal and21 permitted slalom course and that are equipped with a rearview wide-an-22 gle mirror are exempt from the requirement of having at least one (1)23 other competent person in the boat acting as an observer as provided in24 subsection (1) of this section. The size of the mirror must be no less25 than four (4) inches from bottom to top and across from side to side. It26 shall be mounted firmly to give the operator a full, complete view be-27 yond the rear of the vessel at all times. is equipped with a mirror con-28 sistent with paragraph (b)(i)1. of this subsection; or29 (b)(i) The vessel:30 1. Is equipped with a large mirror that is at least seventy-31 eight (78) square inches and is firmly mounted in a position32 that allows the operator to face the direction of travel and33 observe the person being towed at all times;34 2. Has a platform on the stern of the boat that is as wide as35 the stern of the boat and allows for a person to safely exit36 the water and enter the vessel without assistance;37 3. Has a propeller that is recessed under the boat; and38 4. Is being operated between one (1) hour prior to sunrise39 and 9:00 a.m. from May 15 through September 10 of each year40 or at any time of day from September 11 through May 14 of each41 year;42

2 (ii) The person in tow remains in contact with the vessel at all1 times using a tow rope that has a handle or similar apparatus and2 utilizes water skis, a water board, a surf board, or a similar con-3 trivance; and4 (iii) The person operating the vessel is over eighteen (18) years5 of age and has a valid drivers license.6 (3) No Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no ves-7 sel shall have in tow or shall otherwise be assisting a person on water skis,8 aquaplane or a similar contrivance from the period of one (1) hour after sun-9 set to one (1) hour prior to sunrise. This subsection shall not apply to ves-10 sels used in duly authorized water ski tournaments, competitions, exposi-11 tions, or trials.12 (4) All vessels having in tow or otherwise assisting a person on water13 skis, aquaplane or a similar contrivance shall be operated in a careful and14 prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as15 not to endanger the life or property of any person or create excessive wake.16 (5) No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel's attached towrope17 or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane18 or a similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause19 the same or any person thereon to collide with or strike against any person or20 object other than a jumping ramp or in conjunction with skiing over a slalom21 course.22 (6) No person may operate or permit to be operated any vessel used for23 towing water-skiers or devices in which persons or objects are being towed24 above, in, or on the waters of this state unless it has on board and displays a25 warning flag that must be international orange or red in color and must be at26 least one (1) foot square. When any person being towed by the vessel becomes27 disengaged from the towline and is down in the water, a person in the vessel28 must immediately hold the warning flag aloft, visible from all sides, as an29 indicator to other vessels in the area that a person is down in the water. As30 long as such downed person is in the water, the flag must remain displayed to31 prevent danger to that person and hazards to passing vessels. Such warning32 flag must be displayed only under these conditions or when other eminent dan-33 ger exists.34

SECTION 2. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby35 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its36 passage and approval.37