BEACH Act of 2025

Summary#

The BEACH Act of 2025 changes how the federal grant program for coastal recreation water monitoring works. It expands the places that can be monitored to include nearby shallow upstream waters and waters that are present on beaches or similar public access points. States and local governments that get grants may use the money to identify specific sources of contamination and must report data about those identified sources. The bill updates the years of authorized funding to provide $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator must make sure guidance to grantees reflects new testing technologies for water contamination.

What it means for you#

• State and local agencies that run beach monitoring programs can apply for these grants.
• Grant money can be used to test coastal recreation waters, nearby shallow upstream waters, and waters on beaches, and to find specific contamination sources.
• The EPA will provide updated guidance that includes recent testing technologies.
• The program is authorized to receive $30,000,000 per year from 2025 through 2029. Whether your local beaches get more testing depends on if local authorities apply for and receive grants.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 for the grant program.
• No publicly available information on total federal cost estimates, offsets, or required state or local matching funds beyond that authorization.

Proponents' View#

Proponents say the bill updates and extends the existing beach monitoring grant program, allows grants to be used to identify specific sources of contamination, expands monitoring to nearby shallow upstream waters and waters on beaches, and requires EPA guidance to reflect innovations in testing technologies.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.