(Helena) Boaters in Montana no longer need a validation decal from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks after legislation that was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte on May 1.
The main feature of the new law is the removal of the requirement for watercraft validation for motorized vessels. This validation was a free a sticker that boat owners had to get every three years from FWP.
The reason for the validation was a requirement by the U.S. Coast Guard that allowed FWP to secure federal boating safety funds. However, the Coast Guard requirements changed and Montana was no longer compliant, and legislators agreed to remove the requirement all together.
