Shipbuilding Investment and Workforce Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Introduced
Summary
A maritime-focused Qualified Opportunity Zone track that would steer private investment into shipyards, ports, and vessel repair. It would create a nomination and certification path, define eligible maritime activities by NAICS codes, cap designations at 100 census tracts, and set a timetable that begins after Dec 31, 2026 with nominations starting by July 1, 2027.
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- Investors and funds: Would establish "qualified maritime prosperity funds" modeled on rural opportunity funds so investors could use QOZ tax incentives for projects inside designated maritime zones.
- Maritime businesses and workers: Would limit qualifying property and businesses to those whose use or operations are "substantially all" tied to maritime industries, channeling capital to ship construction, repair, ports, and related NAICS-coded activities.
- Local areas and administration: Would let the Commerce Secretary nominate tracts in consultation with Defense, the Navy, Transportation, the U.S. Trade Representative, and OMB, and would limit the program to 100 census tracts at any time.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Bigger tax basis for maritime funds
This bill would create a "qualified maritime prosperity fund" and let such funds use the same basis-increase rules that apply to certain rural opportunity funds. The fund definition would follow the rural fund rules but substitute the bill's maritime prosperity zone definition. These changes would take effect after December 31, 2026.
Tax rules for maritime prosperity zones
This bill would let up to 100 coastal census tracts be treated as qualified Opportunity Zones if they are named maritime prosperity zones. The Commerce Secretary would nominate tracts after consulting Defense, the Navy, Transportation, the U.S. Trade Representative, and OMB, and Treasury would certify and designate them. Property and businesses in tracts designated only for maritime reasons would qualify only if substantially all use or operations are in maritime industries. The Commerce Secretary must start nominations by July 1, 2027 and the changes would take effect after December 31, 2026.
Start date for maritime tax rules
The bill would make the maritime zone and related fund tax changes effective beginning after December 31, 2026. It would require the Commerce Secretary to begin the nomination and notification process by July 1, 2027. Investors and businesses would not have access to these maritime rules before 2027.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
PA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
TX • R
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov