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Nebraska Life Jacket Rules (2026)

Conditional: In Nebraska no child under 13 may be aboard any vessel without wearing a Coast Guard-approved life preserver, except when hunting waterfowl in an anchored boat.

ConditionalVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: outdoornebraska.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Life Jacket Rules in states bordering Nebraska

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

ColoradoConditional
Colorado requires children 12 years of age and younger to wear a life jacket whenever the vessel is on the water, except when in an enclosed cabin or below deck.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: cpw.state.co.us · Full Colorado rule →
IowaConditional
Under Iowa law, any child under age 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while on a vessel, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: iowadnr.gov · Full Iowa rule →
KansasConditional
Kansas requires children age 12 and younger to wear a properly-fitting life jacket while on the boat.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ksoutdoors.com · Full Kansas rule →
MissouriConditional
Missouri requires each person under age 7 aboard any watercraft on state waters to wear a USCG-approved PFD (exception for fully enclosed areas such as a houseboat/cruiser cabin).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mshp.dps.missouri.gov · Full Missouri rule →
South DakotaConditional
South Dakota requires each child under 7 years old to wear a Coast Guard-approved PFD whenever the boat operates above no-wake speed, unless in a cabin or below deck.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: rules.sd.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
WyomingConditional
In Wyoming, children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway unless they are inside an enclosed cabin.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: wgfd.wyo.gov · Full Wyoming rule →

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