Senate 682

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 682

By Senator Takubo

[Introduced January 30, 2026; referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources]

A BILL to amend and reenact §20-7-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the operation of motorboats with larger than 9.9 horsepower engines on lakes in idle mode; and authorizing the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to promulgate rules, restrictions, and impose fines for violations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOTORBOATING, LITTER.

§20-7-13. Motorboat classification; required lights and equipment; rules and regulations; pilot rules.

 (a) Vessels on the waters of this state are subject to lighting requirements, equipment requirements, and pilot and navigation rules, as contained in the federal navigation laws and rules promulgated by the United States Coast Guard pursuant to 33 C.F.R. Subchapter E et seq. Inland Navigation Rules, as authorized by 46 U.S.C. §4302.

(b) Vessels on the waters of this state are subject to ventilation requirements as contained in federal navigation laws and rules promulgated by the United States Coast Guard pursuant to 46 C.F.R. §25.40 et seq., as authorized by 6 U.S.C. §4302.

 (c) The director may promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code modifying the equipment requirements contained in this section to the extent necessary to keep these requirements in conformity with the provisions of the federal navigation laws or with the navigation rules promulgated by the United States Coast Guard.

 (d) The director may promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, pilot rules in conformity with the pilot rules contained in the federal navigation laws, or the navigation rules promulgated by the United States Coast Guard for the operation of vessels on the waters of this state.

(e) The director may promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code restricting motorboats with engines larger than 9.9 horsepower to operating on 9.9 horsepower lakes in idle mode.  These rules shall provide the authority to impose fines on the operators of motorboats violating the rules.

 (e) (f) No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel which is not equipped as required by this section or modification thereof.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the director of Natural Resources to promulgate rules, requiring persons operating motorboats with larger than 9.9 engines on 9.9 horsepower lakes to run in idle mode.  The rules are to authorize fines for violations.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.