Sponsors (6)
This change clarifies who (one State vs. multiple States) has authority over shark-feeding restrictions—helping government management and enforcement—but risks expanding regulatory coverage and creating economic burdens and uncertainty for states and local operators.
State governments and federal fisheries managers (including the Secretary of Commerce/NOAA) gain clearer statutory authority and reduced ambiguity about whether restrictions apply to one or multiple States, which can improve enforcement and management decisions.
State authorities, local tour operators, and businesses involved in shark-feeding could face expanded regulatory reach, new compliance burdens, and economic uncertainty if the pluralization or inserted text broadens applicability or creates new restrictions/exceptions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Amends the federal shark-feeding prohibition by changing a reference from "the State" to "the States" and adds unspecified new text to that provision.
Makes a narrow change to the federal law that prohibits shark feeding by amending the cited statutory language. One provision creates an official short title; the substantive change modifies 16 U.S.C. § 1866 by replacing a singular reference to "the State" with the plural "the States" and inserting additional text after an existing sentence. The actual text of the insertion was not provided, so the practical effect beyond the pluralization is unclear.
Introduced June 6, 2025 by Daniel A. Webster · Last progress June 6, 2025