Tag Archives: Legislation

Before last month’s August recess, Congress advanced several (FY) 2024 appropriation bills—which include a number of the recreational boating industry’s funding priorities, such as addressing the proposed vessel speed restrictions.The spending bills include funding for industry priorities by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The bills also support important programs that ...

A four-year, $10 million grant from NOAA’s Marine Debris Removal Program to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water aims to rid the nation’s shores of abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), and remove the associated pollution, navigation and safety hazards that can harm waters for years. The grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is part of NOAA’s larger mission to address marine debris, ...

Last week, NMMA hosted the inaugural Boating Technology Day in Sacramento, with staff members of the California legislature and policy makers in attendance. The event kicked off at the March Fong Secretary of State Building with technology and policy presentations followed by on-water boating demonstrations by NMMA members. Presentations focused on the recreational boating industry’s environmental leadership and reduction of ...

Recently, Governor Maura Healey signed the 2024 state budget, which included $150,000 in funding for workforce development and career technical education initiatives within the recreational boating industry. This funding will continue the successful initiatives and progress that the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) has made over the last five-plus years to help meet the workforce challenges within the industry. The funds ...

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster was joined earlier this month by Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette, state and local law enforcement officers, state agency leaders, and members of the General Assembly for a ceremonial bill signing of Senate Bill 96, a bill that strengthens boater education requirements. Under current South Carolina law, anyone younger than 16 is required to complete ...

The NMMA and recreational boating and fishing industry leaders were in Washington, D.C. last week to express concerns over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s proposed expansion of its North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The proposed expansion would implement a 10 knot (11 mph) speed limit on boats 35 feet and greater across a vast area of ...

Following the conclusion of 2023 state legislative sessions, the NMMA is hosting a webinar on July 26, at 4 p.m. to provide an overview of the legislative priorities with the greatest impact on the recreational boating and fishing industry this year, and what to expect in 2024.The webinar will cover the industry’s policy priorities on the state level, such as boating access ...

In June, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, held a hearing that reviewed the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for agencies under its purview, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – a leading provider of public recreation opportunities. The hearing emphasized the need for proper funding to maintain USACE managed lands, ...

The nation’s largest recreational boat owners advocacy, services and safety group Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), and the nonprofit state advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC), are asking Golden State boat owners to speak up on a recently proposed 300% boat registration fee increase outlined in Governor Newsom’s 2024 budget. “Most citizens can understand, over time, ...

Last week, the leading organizations representing recreational fishing and boating in the United States urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reject a petition to establish a year-round 10-knot (11 mph) vessel speed limit and other vessel-related measures in the Rice’s whale “core” habitat area in the Gulf of Mexico. The petitioners are asking NOAA to use their ...