Hammers' Law allows passengers injured on cruise ships operating on the high seas to seek compensation for nonpecuniary damages—meaning losses related to care, comfort, and companionship—in addition to other damages they may recover. The bill modifies existing federal maritime law (Section 30307 of Title 46) to extend protections that previously applied mainly to commercial aviation accidents to cruise ship voyages as well. The legislation applies specifically to large passenger vessels (carrying at least 250 people with sleeping facilities) that pick up or drop off passengers in U.S. ports but are not engaged in coastwise voyages. The bill was introduced by Representatives Bacon, Van Drew, Matsui, and Scanlon in April 2025 and contains no specific funding allocations or implementation timelines. This change gives cruise ship passengers a clearer legal pathway to recover damages for emotional harm and loss of quality of life resulting from accidents at sea.
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