H.R. 2772: Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025, aims to improve boating safety by directing the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard operates to conduct a study on recreational vessel operator training. Here’s a breakdown of its main components:

Study Requirement

Within 180 days of the bill being enacted, the Secretary must initiate a study and report to Congress on current recreational vessel operator training programs. The study will focus on:

• Training programs offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron.
• State boating education programs, including those endorsed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
• Other hands-on training programs available for recreational boat operators.

Focus Areas of the Study

The study will evaluate specific areas related to recreational vessel operator education, which include:

• Course materials and content.
• Training and assessment methodologies.
• Relevance of course content concerning the risks faced by recreational boaters.

Contents of the Report

The report must provide comprehensive information, which will include:

• Actions taken by the Coast Guard and NASBLA to encourage states to implement mandatory recreational vessel operator training.
• An evaluation of how states manage to align their education programs and testing processes.
• An assessment of whether states offer reciprocity for their respective mandatory and voluntary education requirements and programs.
• A breakdown of the uniformity of education and training requirements among states that have mandatory programs.
• Minimum standards for educating recreational vessel operators.
• Suggestions on how a federal training and testing program could align with state programs.
• An analysis of the relevance of course content to risks associated with recreational boating.
• A description of the current implementation timelines for mandatory boater education across states with such programs.
• An overview of how experienced boaters might bypass mandatory education and proceed directly to testing.
• Recommendations for a bypass option for experienced boaters.
• An outline of how the Coast Guard would administer a federal boating education, training, and testing program.
• Consideration of whether a federal boating education program should be enforced for all waters within a state, including internal waters.

Potential Impact

The bill is focused solely on gathering information and does not immediately implement any new requirements or changes. However, it sets the stage for future legislative action regarding recreational vessel operator training and safety standards.

Relevant Companies

None found.