2025 Annual Conference
Eco-Friendly Boating Resources

We Fight For You!

Legislative Advocacy for the Marine Recreation Industry

The Marine Recreation Association (MRA) serves as a bridge between marine businesses and the California government. We work closely with legislators, helping them understand our industry and influencing the environmental regulations and policies that impact it.

Our goal is to protect the environment while ensuring those protective measures are fair and realistic for marine businesses.

Without organizations like ours, legislators may overlook the complexities of our industry, making decisions without fully understanding the challenges we face.

How does an idea
become a law?

Check out this simple explanation.

Your Voice.
Your Advocate.

We’re committed to offering members the most effective political representation possible. In light of that, we’ve enlisted the help of Platinum Advisors, a group of experienced lobbyists dedicated to strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Since 2019, they’ve been assisting us in evaluating and acting on relevant legislation—from Sacramento to Washington, D.C.—and helping us maintain vital relationships with government officials and agencies to ensure our needs are heard and met.

“The job of the lobbyist is to digest the 1000s of bills that impact our members, distill the issues so lawmakers understand the impacts on their district, and convince them to cast their vote with our issues top of mind. Its about education and relationships – aligning our members with potential champions and cultivating the relationships.”

–Beau Biller
Lobbyist
Platinum Advisors

Protecting Marine Recreation and Access to Waterways

  • Collaborates with Industry Stakeholders

    The association often partners with other marine organizations to strengthen our advocacy efforts and build coalitions that can effectively address shared concerns.

  • Monitors Legislation and Regulations

    We track state and federal legislative developments on environmental regulations, permitting, taxation, and waterfront access that impact marine businesses.

  • Promotes Environmental Stewardship

    We support balanced environmental regulations that promote clean water, waste management, and sustainable boating, while opposing overly restrictive policies that could harm businesses.

  • Educates Members

    The MRA keeps members informed on legislative changes and offers guidance on compliance best practices through webinars, newsletters, emails, and events.

  • Engages with Policymakers

    The MRA builds relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, providing expert testimony, position papers, and participating in public hearings to advocate for our interests.

Partner Organizations

  • BoatUS
  • California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains (CAHMPC)
  • California Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau
  • California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference (CMANC)
  • California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA)
  • National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
  • Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA)
  • Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC)
  • Sacramento Valley Marine Association (SVMA)

When an unfair, unrealistic regulation comes down the pike, it’s always pretty bleak. Then, our advocacy team starts to work and attempt to educate the legislator who’s written the bill.

If it’s impactful enough, they’ll bring in our partner associations—CYBA, CAHMPC, RBOC, NMMA, etc.—and the bill will usually be amended or killed.

Through working with these similar associations, and having such a great working relationship, we’ve been able to put our hand up and say, ‘We are big. We are powerful. We represent recreational boating in California,’ and really make a difference.

–Kate Pearson
Senior VP of Business Development
Safe Harbor Marinas

How to Get Involved...

Monthly Advocacy Webinars:

Under the Dome

Calling all MRA members and industry stakeholders!

Stay informed and prepared to act by attending Under the Dome, the MRA’s free monthly webinar series on the latest legislative and regulatory developments impacting the marine recreation industry.

Each session provides real-time updates on policy developments and critical issues, featuring guest speakers from the legislative, regulatory, and advocacy sectors—including lawmakers, NMMA, RBOC, and more!

Past Topics Have Included:

  • Golden Mussel Reservoir Closures – Preventing invasive species threats
  • E-15 Fuel Mandates – Understanding risks to vessel engines
  • CARB Emissions Regulations – New standards impacting recreational boating
  • Marina Flotation Systems & Penalties – Compliance and cost concerns
  • DBAW Funding Shortfalls – Addressing critical infrastructure needs

Join the MRA’s lobbyist, Beau Biller, for expert insights on the challenges shaping your business.

Register for FREE and Stay Up-to-Date!
View Our Events Calendar

California Boating Congress (CBC)

Where can marine businesses, recreational boaters, and industry leaders meet face-to-face with government officials to make a difference? The California Boating Congress!

Held annually in Sacramento since 2016, the CBC gives attendees the opportunity to voice concerns, learn about upcoming changes, and collaborate on initiatives that promote safe, accessible, and environmentally responsible boating.

With increasing recognition from legislators and regulators since the event’s inception, the CBC has become a vital force in ensuring that the boating industry’s impact and economic importance are considered in California’s decision making.

Check out our 2023 CBC video and recap to learn more about this crucial event.

Attending the California Boating Congress was a transformative experience for me. I gained invaluable insights into the policies and legislative efforts shaping the future of boating in California. I was able to connect with industry leaders and policy makers and share that information with both my colleagues and customers. The California Boating Congress is an essential resource for anyone looking to make a meaningful impact in the world of boating.

–Geli Burgin
General Manager
The Maritime Centre

The future of boating is counting on you!
Show up and be heard!

2025 California Boating Congress

Thank you for attending this year’s California Boating Congress! Stay tuned for information on next year’s event!

Sacramento, CA

Recent Advocacy Wins

Killing to Float Bill

Killing the Float Bill

The Bill

Assembly Bill 2916 (a.k.a. “The Float Bill”), aimed to prohibit the sale, distribution, or installation of floats and overwater structures made with expanded polystyrene or plastic foam, unless fully enclosed in a durable shell. It also required that any float repaired or maintained be encapsulated to prevent contamination.

Our Position

The MRA wholeheartedly supports protecting California’s waterways from polystyrene contamination. However, the bill’s requirement to encapsulate floats that are simply maintained (a daily occurrence for most marine facilities) would have imposed unreasonable financial and operational costs on these marine businesses.

As the lead opposition, the MRA joined forces with other organizations to oppose the bill, unless the word “maintain” was removed. If amended, AB 2916 would only have required encapsulation for new installations and repairs—striking a balance between environmental protection and practical industry requirements.

The Result

We killed the bill! It was a significant win for the industry, saving businesses millions of dollars in premature spending, operational disruptions, and lost revenue—and showcasing the power of collective advocacy.

What’s Next

Be prepared for action! The sponsors of the Float Bill will be introducing a new proposal soon. If it threatens the industry, we’ll rally to protect your interests and the future of marine recreation. Stay tuned…

The Flare Bill... Vetoed!

The Flare Bill… Vetoed!

The Bill

Senate Bill 1066 (a.k.a. “The Flare Bill”) would have banned the sale of marine flares containing perchlorate, a chemical that can harm water quality. It would also have required manufacturers to create a program for the collection and disposal of expired marine flares, reducing hazardous waste and pollution in waterways.

Our Position

The MRA shares the authors’ concerns about water pollution and the proper disposal of expired flares, but safety must come first.

Perchlorate-based pyrotechnic flares are among the most common distress signals used by boaters. They are Coast Guard-approved, affordable, and provide reliable visibility both day and night.

SB 1066 would have banned these flares without a viable, cost-effective alternative in place, making it more challenging and expensive for boaters to meet safety requirements.

Recognizing this, we partnered with other boating organizations urging the legislature to oppose SB 1066 unless amended. We suggested they begin with a pilot version of the proposed collection program before removing these widely-used flares from the market.

This would give them time to collect data, assess program effectiveness, and ensure proven infrastructure was in place before making drastic changes that could impact boater safety.

The Result

The Governor vetoed the bill, citing that it “…lack[ed] a comprehensive program scope to effectively achieve the goal of protecting human and environmental health…” It was a big win for boating safety!

What’s Next

The authors have gone back to the drawing board on this bill and plan to introduce a new version. Updates will be available on the monthly Under the Dome webinars and in our newsletters. More to come…

The Matrix: A Regulatory Victory

The Matrix: A Regulatory Victory

Boatyards and marinas face numerous environmental regulations, making compliance a significant challenge. To shed light on this, the MRA funded the creation of a detailed regulatory matrix (chart) to demonstrate to legislators the overwhelming burden these rules impose.

The message was clear: “We all share the goal of protecting the environment, but current legislation needs to be amended to make compliance more achievable.”

One regulation required boatyards to test and report rainwater runoff for toxic levels before it entered the ocean, with fines for noncompliance. However, natural sources like bird waste often pushed toxin levels beyond allowable limits, which left boatyards struggling to comply despite extensive efforts to filter the runoff.

Using the matrix and other resources, the MRA successfully communicated this challenge to legislators, leading to an increase in allowable toxin levels to account for environmental factors. This change enabled the yards to achieve compliance and avoid being fined for circumstances that were beyond their control.

This example highlights the vital role of advocacy in shaping regulations that balance environmental goals with reasonable solutions.

Marine facilities depend on organizations like ours to communicate these realities to policymakers and help create fair, achievable legislation.

2024 Marine Recreation Association Legislator of the Year

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner

California District 77

Watch Asm. Boerner’s Acceptance Speech

Thank you for selecting me as your 2024 Marine Recreation Association Legislator of the year…

“In the spring, I had the pleasure of meeting members of the Marine Recreation Association and the California Yacht Brokers Association at the International Boat Show, right here in San Diego. That event helped deepen our relationship, and I truly value the friendships we’ve built.

“I’m committed to representing your interests. I’ve seen the important work you do, firsthand, and I always appreciate hearing about your legislative priorities during the California Boating Congress.

“Thank you for this recognition. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

–Tasha Boerner
Assemblymember
California District 77