The use of a safety lanyard engine cut-off switch will become mandatory in the United States. An Act of Congress passed in 2020 amends federal regulations to require use of an engine cut off switch link. An excerpt of the actual regulations appears below;
SEC. 8316. ENGINE CUT-OFF SWITCHES; USE REQUIREMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 4312 of title 46, United States Code, is amended(b) Civil Penalty.--Section 4311 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by--
- by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
- by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b) Use Requirement.--
(1) In general.--An individual operating a covered recreational vessel shall use an engine cut-off switch link while operating on plane or above displacement speed.
(2) Exceptions.--The requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply if--
- (A) the main helm of the covered vessel is installed within an enclosed cabin; or
- (B) the vessel does not have an engine cut-off switch and is not required to have one under subsection (a)
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made in subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, unless the Commandant, prior to the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, determines that the use requirement enacted in subsection (a) would not promote recreational boating safety.
- redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and
- inserting after subsection (b) the following:
(c) A person violating section 4312(b) of this title is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than
- $100 for the first offense;
- $250 for the second offense; and
- $500 for any subsequent offense.
The date of enactment is January 1, 2021, based on that date being when the Senate and House voted to override a presidential veto on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395). The regulations regarding boaters were originally contained in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020, which was later rolled into the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021.
As for what water is covered by this regulation, the exact interpretation is unknown. The applicability may be to "federal waters." Here is some opinion on what exactly constitutes "federal waters":
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/46/4301
https://www.boat-ed.com/ohio/studyGuide ... ial%20seas