• Rapid Marine uses proactive approach to engage, educate and encourage Minnesota boaters about new boating safety law Imagine there are 10 hurdles in your way, standing between you and the finish line. If you’ve ever had a chance to run hurdles on a track team, staring down 10 hurdles, each measuring 42 inches high […]
Tag: boating legislation
Texas Boating Bill Protects Consumers, Retailers
• Senate Bill 1267 Increases Transparency in Boat Transactions MINNEAPOLIS, June 10, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), along with a coalition of recreational boating organizations, commends the state of Texas for enacting Senate Bill 1267, signed into law on May 27 by Gov. Greg Abbott. This bipartisan legislation, classified as […]
Led by Northwest Marine Trades Association, Coalition Sinks Washington State Luxury Tax on Recreational Vessels
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2025 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), alongside its industry partners, is celebrating a monumental advocacy victory as the Washington State Legislature has officially tabled a proposed “luxury” tax on vessels (SB5801), protecting marine industry jobs and saving an estimated $70 million over the next six years — a […]
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements Removed
• Marine Retailers Exempt from Burdensome Regulations WASHINGTON, April 1, 2025 – The Marine Retailers Association of the America (MRAA) announced today that on March 21, 2025 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an interim final rule which removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to […]
MRAA Participates in Small Business Legislative Council Fly-in
• MRAA Government Relations Team Meets with White House and Congressional Leadership WASHINGTON, March 24, 2025 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) Government Relations Team recently participated in the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) fly-in in Washington to discuss small business issues impacting recreational boat dealers and potential regulatory hurdles in the […]
NMFS Rescinds Proposed Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule, Maintaining Access for Recreational Boaters and Anglers
WASHINGTON (Jan. 15, 2024) – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that the National Marine Fisheries Service officially withdrew the proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. Initially proposed in August of 2022, this rule would have put in place a 10-knot speed limit on almost the entire East Coast […]
Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule Update
• NOAA hosts technology workshop while advancing Right Whale Vessel Speed rule to final stages • Mike Sayre, Director of Government Relations, MRAA, joins recreational marine and fishing industry advocates; makes case for technology-based solutions The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently held a Vessel Strike Risk Reduction Technology Workshop in an effort to […]
Recreational Fishing and Boating Community Opposes Vessel Speed Restrictions in the Gulf of Mexico
• Collaboration Needed in Conserving Rice’s Whales WASHINGTON, D.C. July 18, 2023 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and other leading organizations representing the recreational fishing and boating industry 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 […]
MRAA, MTAs Seek Monitoring Technology to Counter Right Whale Rule
With the support of 17 state and national marine trades associations, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas submitted a letter to members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) to stall proposed changes to the onerous Right Whale Rule. MRAA and its MTA colleagues asked Committee members […]
Proposed Right Whale Rule Would Have Major Impact on East Coast Boating and Fishing
August 1, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released a proposed rule to put in place additional vessel speed regulations to further protect North Atlantic right whales. The proposed rule would change the spatial and temporal boundaries of the speed reduction zones and include most vessels greater than or equal to 35 feet and less […]
