# 117-hr-5329: Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021

117-hr-5329, Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5329
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-5329
- Congress: 117
- Title: Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
- Introduced: 2021-09-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Small Passenger Vessel Liability Fairness Act of 2021 This bill revises maritime law regarding the liability of owners of certain small passenger vessels for violations of safety rules resulting in accidents on such vessels. Under current law, owners may avoid liability in some cases depending on the value of their vessels after accidents. The bill requires the Coast Guard to promulgate rules that require owners or operators of small passenger vessels to provide just compensation in any claim for which they are found liable. The bill makes the revised liability provisions retroactive to September 2, 2019, the date of what is known as the Conception boat fire in which 34 lives were lost.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 117-hr-7791: Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022
- 117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation…
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of thei…
- 117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-5329 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5329)

## Related
- [117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3537)
- [117-hr-7791: Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7791)
- [117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5142)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doher…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-310)
- [117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8404)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5329 (as of 2025-11-18).