This bill continues and strengthens a program that helps test the water at coastal beaches and alerts people when it’s unsafe to swim. It keeps funding in place through 2029 and lets grant money be used to find where contamination is coming from, including in shallow waters just upstream and on the beaches themselves. It also tells the EPA to update its guidance to use newer water-testing technologies.

Key points

• Who is affected: Beachgoers and coastal communities; state and local governments that receive EPA grants for beach water testing and public notices.
• What changes: Extends funding at $30 million per year; allows grants to track specific sources of contamination; supports monitoring and public warnings for nearby shallow upstream waters and beach areas; requires updated EPA guidance using newer testing tech.
• When: Fiscal years 2025–2029.