H.R. 3831 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Jun 2, 2026. Received Jun 3, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBans shark feeding off Florida's coast
This bill would make it illegal to feed sharks in the ocean waters off Florida—the areas that extend from a few miles offshore out to about 200 miles from the coast. The goal is to stop sharks from being attracted to areas where people swim and fish. The ban would have two exceptions: researchers funded by the federal government could still feed sharks for study, and feeding would be allowed if the government determines it doesn't create any safety risks.
How it affects you
If you live in Florida or visit the state's beaches and coastal waters, this would reduce the chance that sharks are deliberately attracted to areas where people swim, dive, or fish. Researchers conducting federally funded shark studies would still be able to do their work as usual.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, May 20, 2026)
Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025
This bill prohibits shark feeding in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) seaward of Florida for any purpose other than to harvest sharks, subject to limited exceptions. (Florida state waters generally extend 3 miles from the shore in the Atlantic Ocean and 9 miles from the shore in the Gulf of America. The EEZ is seaward of and adjacent to state waters and generally extends to 200 miles from the U.S. coastline.)
Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to introduce, or attempt to introduce, food or any other substance into these waters to attract sharks for any purpose other than to harvest sharks. Exceptions allow shark feeding (1) for research programs funded by federal appropriations, or (2) to the extent that the feeding presents no public health hazard or safety risk (as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or under state law).
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3831
AN ACT
Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL-11) · Introduced Jun 6, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 3, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 4 official versions.