The Minnesota Senate has passed the Brady Aune and Joe Anderson Safety Act, a bipartisan bill that establishes new safety requirements for aquatic plant removal companies that use scuba divers. 

The bill was introduced following the tragic deaths of Brady Aune, 20, and Joe Anderson, 18, who drowned during their first week on the job performing underwater weed removal. Neither had the proper equipment or training required for safe diving operations—gaps this legislation aims to close. 

“It’s a tragedy that these young men went to their summer jobs in the morning and didn’t come home,” said Senator Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville), a co-author of the bill. “If safety regulations had been in place, Brady and Joe would likely still be alive. It’s critical that we have strong, commonsense workplace protections so Minnesotans can do their jobs safely and return home to their families.” 

Investigations into the accidents revealed serious lapses in safety protocols. Brady was not wearing a buoyancy control device (BCD), and his weight belt buckle was fastened incorrectly, according to findings from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Minnesota law did not require scuba certification for this type of work. Joe received only 10–15 minutes of informal training from a non-certified coworker, was not wearing a BCD, and lacked proper supervision—deficiencies cited in a federal OSHA investigation. 

House File 1355 closes these gaps by requiring: 

• Open-water scuba certification for all employees engaged in aquatic plant removal diving
• Mandatory use of BCDs and illuminated dive beacons
• On-site supervision by a trained individual with CPR/first aid certification and prior diving experience

The families of both Brady and Joe, along with industry stakeholders, have played a pivotal role in advancing this legislation, turning unimaginable loss into a call for lasting reform. 

“This legislation is a testament to the dedication of the Aune and Anderson families turning their grief into action,” Sen. Duckworth added. “It’s a crucial step toward ensuring the safety of fellow Minnesotans across our state.”