New Proposal Targets Minnesota’s Jet Ski Time Limits

Minnesota implemented new laws concerning jet skis on its 10,000 lakes last year, but a new proposal is making the rounds at the Capitol this year, and it would relax one regulation currently on the books.

The personal watercraft we commonly call a jet ski wasn't invented here in Minnesota, but it's been a fixture on our lakes and rivers since the early 1970s, shortly after the product made its debut.

When Did Jet Skis First Appear in Minnesota?

According to Wikipedia, the first Jet Ski (a brand name made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) was introduced in 1973. Recreational riders and dealers began bringing them to lakes across the U.S., including here in Minnesota, by the mid-to-late 1970s as the machines gained popularity.

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By the 1980s, they were common enough on lakes here in the North Star State that racing events, rentals, and personal ownership had taken off. And by 2002, the Minnesota House of Representatives reported that Minnesota had nearly 38,000 registered personal watercraft.

What Are Minnesota’s Current Jet Ski Laws?

But did you know that according to current Minnesota law, if you're one of those 38,000 jet skiers, it's illegal for you to power up your machine and hit the water if it's too early in the morning? That's right, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources states that you can only operate your jet ski from 9:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset.

So if you were looking to get out on the water with your jet ski just after sunrise this summer, you could be opening yourself up to a fine if you're caught by a conversation warden or other law enforcement officer.

Proposed Minnesota Bill Could Allow Earlier Jet Ski Use

But a proposal making the rounds in the Minnesota Senate (that would be SF 3961, if you're curious) could change that. Specifically, the proposal would amend Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.313, subdivision 1, and change the time jet skis are legally allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to one hour before sunset from the current 9:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset.

That bill was introduced on February 26th, 2026, and a companion bill was also introduced in the House earlier this year as well (that would be HF 3384), and both have been referred to various committees. Right now, it's apparently too early to say if either or both bills will move on to a full floor vote in either chamber-- or if Gov. Walz would approve the bill and sign it into law.