Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025

Bill Summary: Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025 (H.R. 2772)

Overview

The Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act of 2025 is a legislative proposal aimed at improving the safety of recreational boating across the United States. Rather than immediately imposing new regulations, the bill mandates a comprehensive federal study to evaluate the current state of boater education and determine how to standardize training, testing, and certification across different states.

Main Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of the bill is to identify gaps in existing recreational vessel operator training and explore the feasibility of a more uniform, potentially federal, approach to boating education. By analyzing current state and Coast Guard programs, the bill seeks to reduce risks for recreational boaters through better-standardized course content and delivery methods.

Key Provisions

The Act directs the Secretary of the department overseeing the Coast Guard to conduct a detailed study and submit a report to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Areas of Review

The study must evaluate several existing training frameworks, including:
* Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron programs.
* State programs, including those managed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
* Other available hands-on training programs.

Specific Analysis Requirements

The resulting report must address several critical technical and administrative questions:
* Educational Standards: An analysis of course materials, content, training methodologies, and how well those materials align with actual risks faced by boaters.
* State Coordination: An evaluation of "reciprocity" (whether states recognize each other's certifications) and the level of uniformity among states that already require mandatory education.
* Federal Integration: An analysis of how a federal training and testing program could be harmonized with existing state programs and how the Coast Guard would administer such a program.
* Accessibility: A review of "phase-in" periods for mandatory education and whether experienced boaters should be allowed to bypass courses by taking a direct test.

Who is Affected?

• Recreational Boaters: Potential future changes to how boaters are certified and trained.
• State Governments: Those currently managing boating education programs will be analyzed for their effectiveness and consistency.
• The U.S. Coast Guard: Tasked with conducting the research and potentially administering future federal programs.
• Education Providers: Organizations like NASBLA and the Coast Guard Auxiliary whose curricula will be scrutinized.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

• Deadline: The Secretary must complete the study and submit the report not later than 180 days after the Act becomes law.
• Current Status: The bill was introduced on April 9, 2025, and has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.