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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SF 548: Relating to the use of personal flotation devices on personal watercraft

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

This bill relates to the use of personal flotation devices on personal watercraft. The bill requires all persons on board a personal watercraft to wear a personal flotation device. The bill provides an exception to the personal flotation device requirement when the person is at least years of age and the personal watercraft is traveling at miles per hour or less or is in a no-wake zone. Under current administrative rules, all operators and passengers of personal watercraft must wear a specified personal flotation device.

Sponsors

Sen. Adrian Dickey (R)

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named March 16, 2026

  • Rep. Dean Fisher (R) · dean.fisher@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Eric J. Gjerde (D) · eric.gjerde@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Jennifer J. Smith (R) · jennifer.smith@legis.iowa.gov

In plain words

  1. March 6, 2025Filed in the Senate
  2. March 6, 2025Approved by the Senate committee
  3. June 16, 2025Sent to the Senate Natural Resources and Environment committee
  4. January 14, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Evans, Hardman and Pike
  5. January 22, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
  6. February 19, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
  7. March 9, 2026Passed the Senate, 29–17
  8. March 10, 2026Arrived in the House
  9. March 16, 2026House subcommittee named: Fisher, Gjerde and Smith
  10. March 18, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it
  11. March 18, 2026Approved by the House committee
  12. March 18, 2026Committee vote: 13–6

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/SF548