Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
This bill amends title 46, U.S. Code to make a transferor (seller) of a covered commercial vessel liable for specified expenses if the vessel, after transfer for recreational use, sinks in U.S. navigable waters and the transferee lacked applicable insurance at transfer.
Exceptions apply for vessels under 35 feet or under 40 years old, and where the transferee had 12 months of insurance that would cover the specified expenses. "Specified expenses" include damages, removal and debris costs, pollution cleanup, and water intake pump shutdown or repairs.
The bill defines covered vessels and cross-references existing statutory definitions.
Moderately scoped, technically clear bill with plausible bipartisan support but likely industry resistance and procedural hurdles in Senate.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear, narrow substantive change by creating transferor liability for certain decommissioned commercial vessels that sink when the transferee lacks insurance. It provides useful definitions and enumerates covered expenses and exceptions, but it leaves significant practical and legal details unspecified.
Progressives emphasize environmental cleanup and taxpayer protection
Progressives emphasize environmental cleanup and taxpayer protection
Likely supportive overall because the bill holds prior owners accountable for environmental harm and cleanup costs.
It addresses taxpayer exposure to abandoned or sunk vessels and pollution.
They may push for stronger provisions or broader scope, such as eliminating the age/length exceptions or tightening enforcement.
Generally favorable but cautious.
The bill targets a specific problem—abandoned/sunken former commercial vessels—and balances liability with reasonable exceptions and an insurance safe harbor.
They will focus on clear implementation rules, cost estimates, and avoiding undue burden on legitimate private sales.
Skeptical overall.
The bill expands post-sale liability for private parties, which may be seen as regulatory overreach that interferes with secondary markets.
They will emphasize protecting sellers from open-ended liability and prefer private contractual solutions or clearer limits on government claims.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Moderately scoped, technically clear bill with plausible bipartisan support but likely industry resistance and procedural hurdles in Senate.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize environmental cleanup and taxpayer protection
Moderately scoped, technically clear bill with plausible bipartisan support but likely industry resistance and procedural hurdles in Senate.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear, narrow substantive change by creating transferor liability for certain decommissioned commercial vessels that sink when the transferee lacks insu…
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