Bill Details
HR.2500 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-03-31 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Introduced Date
2025-03-31
Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Committees
View committees (2)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (1)
6
0
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would make a person who sells or transfers a former commercial vessel responsible for certain costs if the vessel is later used as a recreational boat, has no proper insurance at the time of transfer, and then sinks in U.S. waters. The goal is to help prevent abandoned wrecks and make sure there is someone accountable for cleanup and related expenses when a decommissioned commercial vessel causes problems after being sold for private use. The bill would not apply in every case, and it includes limits based on the vessel’s size, age, and insurance coverage.
- The seller could be liable for costs caused by the sinking, including damage from the sinking itself, removing the vessel and debris, cleaning up pollution, and fixing or shutting down water intake equipment affected by the pollution.
- The rule would not apply to vessels that are less than 35 feet long or less than 40 years old.
- The seller would also not be liable if, at the time of transfer, the buyer already has insurance that covers the vessel for the next 12 months and would cover the listed costs if the vessel sinks.
- The bill defines covered vessels as commercial vessels, or recreational vessels that used to be commercial vessels.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2500 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2500
To amend title 46, United States Code, to assign specified liability to
a person who transfers title of a commercial vessel, or former
commercial vessel, to a transferee for use as a recreational vessel if
the transferee does not have applicable insurance at the time of the
transfer and the vessel sinks, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 31, 2025
Mr. Harder of California (for himself and Mr. Garamendi) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 46, United States Code, to assign specified liability to
a person who transfers title of a commercial vessel, or former
commercial vessel, to a transferee for use as a recreational vessel if
the transferee does not have applicable insurance at the time of the
transfer and the vessel sinks, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Abandoned Vessel Prevention Act''.
SEC. 2. LIABILITY FOR SPECIFIED EXPENSES RESULTING FROM SINKING OF
CERTAIN DECOMMISSIONED COMMERCIAL VESSELS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 301 of title 46, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 30107. Liability for specified expenses resulting from sinking
of certain decommissioned commercial vessels
``(a) Liability for Transferor.--Except as provided in subsection
(b), any person who transfers title of a covered vessel to another for
use as a recreational vessel shall be liable for any specified expenses
resulting from the vessel sinking on navigable waters of the United
States.
``(b) Exceptions.--
``(1) Vessel length; vessel age.--Subsection (a) shall not
apply to a vessel less than 35 feet in length or fewer than 40
years old.
``(2) Insurance.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a
person who transfers title of a covered vessel to a person who,
at the time of the transfer, has insurance--
``(A) applicable to the vessel for the 12-month
period beginning on the date of the transfer; and
``(B) that, in the case the vessel sinks, covers
specified expenses.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Commercial vessel.--The term `commercial vessel' has
the meaning given such term in section 4462(a)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 4462(a)(4)).
``(2) Covered vessel.--The term `covered vessel' means--
``(A) commercial vessel; or
``(B) a recreational vessel that was previously a
commercial vessel.
``(3) Specified expenses.--The term `specified expenses'
mean, with respect to a sunken vessel--
``(A) damages attributable to the sinking of the
vessel; and
``(B) expenses relating to--
``(i) removal of the vessel and any debris;
``(ii) clean-up of any pollution
attributable to the sinking of the vessel; and
``(iii) any shut down of, or repairs or
maintenance to, a water intake pump as a result
of pollution attributable to the sinking of the
vessel.
``(4) Recreational vessel.--The term `recreational vessel'
has the meaning given such term in section 2101 of title 46,
United States Code.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 301 of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``30107. Liability for specified expenses resulting from sinking of
certain decommissioned commercial
vessels.''.
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