ACMA Releases 2023 Resolutions

The Advisory Council of Marine Associations met during the Marine Retailers Association of America’s Dealer Week, to form its advocacy plan for 2023. During the meeting, members voted for the following resolutions:

Advocate for state and federal programs to assist with marine industry workforce development:

Convene stakeholders to develop state and federal marine industry workforce priorities.

Track marine industry workforce wins and challenges at a state and federal level and provide regular industry/ACMA updates.

Support and inform ongoing workforce development efforts:

Provide input to ongoing workforce development efforts like those being carried out by state marine trade associations (MTAs) and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.

Seek marine industry and dealer exemptions from proposed overburdensome legislative and regulatory action: Track, seek exemption, or inform the direction of, state and federal Right to Repair legislation, PFAS legislation (polyfluoroalkyl substances), Extended Producer Responsibility legislation, and more.

Track and provide comment to proposed state and federal regulatory actions impacting dealership operation, vessel operation, waterways navigability, fisheries management, and natural resources conservation such as the Federal Trade Commission Auto Rule and the Proposed Right Whale Speed Rule.

Advocate for waterways access and policies to minimize user conflict:

Support Mandatory Boater Education policy in states where the MTA and dealers support the provision.

Support “industry standard” wake surfing legislation, where needed, and supported by the MTA and dealers. This legislation requires a rider to wear a PFD, maintain a 200-feet from shore distance, and bans surfing behind a boat without a swim platform.