Hammers' Law would allow cruise ship passengers to seek nonpecuniary damages (compensation for loss of care, comfort, and companionship) in lawsuits arising from incidents that occur on the high seas during cruise voyages. Currently, federal law limits damages in commercial aviation accidents, and this bill extends similar protections and remedies to cruise ship passengers by amending maritime law. The legislation applies to large passenger vessels (those carrying at least 250 passengers with sleeping facilities) that pick up or drop off passengers in the United States, excluding government-operated ships and state-owned vessels. The bill was introduced in April 2025 and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. There is no specific funding mechanism or implementation timeline mentioned in the legislation.
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