Lt. Governor of MA Attends Opening Night of New England Boat Show, Touts Industry’s Impact

The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Kim Driscoll, attended the 2025 Discover Boating New England Boat Show's Opening Night Party, addressing a crowd of more than 125 boaters and industry stakeholders about the importance of recreational boating to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and how critical the New England Boat Show is to the industry.

"We are really dedicated to making sure that this show is successful, for all of you, but certainly it makes a huge part of our economy," noted Lt. Gov. Driscoll. "Last year, we had 372 jobs we attributed directly to the show's five-day run, garnered $13.8 million in labor income, and brought in over $28 million to the state's annual gross delivery. This boat show is meaningful."

Lt. Gov. Driscoll also celebrated the Hanson-Milone Safe Boating Act that was signed into law on Jan. 8 by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey by presenting the signed bill to the Hanson and Milone families. This bill represents a significant step forward in ensuring safer waterways across Massachusetts, bringing the state in line with its neighbors that already have comprehensive boating safety laws. Its enactment promises to save lives and enhance safety standards for all waterway users.

"The Hanson-Milone bill is going to lead to less accidents in the Commonwealth and put us in a position to save countless lives," said Lt. Gov. Driscoll.

NMMA, working alongside the Massachusetts Marine Trade Association (MMTA) and the recreational boating industry, worked with lawmakers and stakeholders to support the passage of the legislation. NMMA and the MMTA applaud the bill becoming law and continue to advocate for safe boating practices across the country.