A new federal law has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would prohibit swimming pools at residential daycare facilities.

Known as River’s Law, the law was introduced by Congressman Ritchie Torres, to honor 20-monthold River Wilson, a girl who drowned on August 1, 2025, at Ana's Butterfly Garden Family Group in the Bronx, New York.

“River's death is a reminder, a tragic reminder, that residential day care centers with swimming pools are dangerously understaffed and dangerously under-regulated,” Torres said at the announcement of the legislation.

“There were layers and layers of preventable safety failures,” Torres said. “If there had been adult supervision, River would be alive today. If there had been adequate safety inspections, River would be alive today. If there had been adequate fencing around the pool, River would be alive today. If there had been alarms on the doors, on the fences, or in the pools itself, River would be alive today.”

Ana’s Butterfly Garden was shuttered on August 6 by state officials who found “at least nine violations that led to River’s death,” said the family’s lawyer, James Williams.

But the records show that the facility was inspected four times between March 2024 through May 2025 with no violations reported. It was only after River’s death that the facility’s operators were cited. Violations included inadequate barriers around the pool and insufficient supervision, in addition to other items.

“We hope that the state will take a closer look at how they are inspecting these home daycares,” Williams said. “I hope that it’s not the case that the state missed something. I really hope that’s not the case, but we do know there are a number of violations, and we do know the state was there.”

Williams also accused the facility of gross negligence. According to reports, the day care operator was cooking when she realized she had not seen River for about 20 minutes.

“A one-year-old child doesn’t go unsupervised and end up in a swimming pool unless someone who was responsible for her care completely fell down on the job,” Williams said.

And that’s why Congressman Torres wants to ban swimming pools at residential day care centers.

“At the request of River’s family, I am introducing River’s Law to ensure that what happened to River will never happen again,” Torres said.

“No parent should ever have to endure such a devastating and preventable loss. River’s death must not be in vain.”