Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “Every Child a Swimmer” bill into law on September 26, 2025, making New York the latest state to adopt a crucial measure aimed at preventing childhood drowning through school-based information campaigns.
The new law is part of a rapidly growing national campaign spearheaded by the Florida-based Every Child A Swimmer Foundation. The foundation wrote the original bill that was successfully passed in Florida in 2021, creating a simple and effective model to get life-saving information to parents.
New York now joins a broad coalition of states that have enacted similar laws, including Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Washington, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, New York schools will play a direct role in promoting water safety. When a parent or guardian initially enrolls their child in a public school, they will be provided with a packet of water safety information highlighting the critical importance of formal swimming lessons and outlining key drowning prevention strategies.
Casey McGovern, executive director of the Every Child a Swimmer Foundation, said, “I am deeply grateful to the New York Water Safety Coalition, the State and Broadway team, and every sponsor who worked tirelessly to make this legislation a reality. Drowning is preventable, and this law is a powerful step forward in educating parents about the risk factors and providing them with the knowledge to keep their children safe. As someone who has lived the unimaginable pain of losing a child to drowning, I know firsthand the urgency of this work. From a professional standpoint, I see the Every Child a Swimmer legislation as a model for accountability, equity, and impact — ensuring all families, regardless of circumstance, have access to life-saving education and resources. Together, we are changing the narrative and building a generation of safer, stronger swimmers.”
“This is a monumental victory for every child and family in New York,” said Brendan O’Melveny, founder of the New York Water Safety Coalition, the group that brought the bill to the state legislature. “We’re proud that New York has become one of the first states to join this vital national effort to protect our children. We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul, Senator Cordell Cleare, and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for championing this lifesaving legislation and turning a common-sense idea into a law that will protect our children for generations to come.”
Bobby Hazen, executive director of the national nonprofit Stop Drowning Now said, “With drowning being the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5-14, the only way to change this horrific statistic is by educating our parents, caregivers, communities and children about the dangers of being in on our near any open water and the layers of protection needed to be safer. We sincerely thank Governor Hochul, Senator Cordell Cleare, and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for making this a reality.”
State Senator Cordell Cleare, prime sponsor of the legislation said: “Our Every Child A Swimmer legislation is incredibly important to the heath, safety and wellbeing of the five million children who call our State home. This law will be empowering in many ways, including by addressing the great inequity in drowning incidents that disproportionately affects Black Children, Youth & Adults. Thank you to every member of the coalition that made enactment of this life-saving bill possible.”
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, “I am proud that with the signing of the ‘Every Child a Swimmer’ law, New York is joining a national movement to save lives through water safety. Too many families have faced the heartbreak of preventable drownings, and this law ensures that parents will have the information and resources they need to keep their children safe. I am proud to have championed this bill, and I thank Governor Kathy Hochul and my colleagues for working with me to protect our children and strengthen water safety education across our state.”
