Sponsor
Representative · R-VA
The bill improves swimmer safety and preserves public access by allowing federal reimbursement for local lifeguards during federal staffing shortfalls, but it increases federal costs and adds administrative and dispute risks for local agencies and users.
Parents, families, and children visiting federal parks and refuges will have continued lifeguard coverage at designated swim locations during federal staffing shortages, improving swimmer safety and reducing drowning risk.
Local governments supplying lifeguards will be reimbursed for all reasonable lifeguard-related costs (including costs from amended agreements), reducing their fiscal burden for providing emergency services on federal lands.
Recreational visitors (families and community members in urban and rural areas) will retain access to swimming areas during federal lifeguard shortages because local lifeguards can be authorized to staff seasonal hours.
Federal taxpayers may face higher costs because the Interior Department must reimburse local agencies for all reasonable lifeguard-related expenses, increasing federal spending.
Parents, families and local agencies could experience delays in lifeguard coverage or reimbursement payments if disputes arise over what counts as 'reasonable costs' or whether a staffing shortage meets the statutory definition.
Local governments will face added administrative burden to negotiate, amend, document, and certify agreements and costs to obtain reimbursements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Interior Department to arrange reimbursed agreements with local governments to provide lifeguards at designated federal swim locations when staffing shortages would leave them unmonitored.
Official title: Safe Beaches, Safe Swimmers Act
Introduced August 29, 2025 by Jennifer Kiggans · Last progress September 15, 2026
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to arrange agreements with one or more local government agencies to provide lifeguards at designated swim locations on lands and waters managed by National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Bureau of Reclamation when the Secretary finds a staffing shortage that would likely leave the site unmonitored during normal seasonal hours. Agreements must allow local-government-employed lifeguards to perform rescue and first aid, staff normal seasonal hours, and the Department must reimburse the local government for all reasonable costs; existing agreements must be amended to ensure full reimbursement.