Bill > H1297

This bill modifies Florida's beach management laws to enhance the designation and management of critically eroded beaches. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to consider specific data, such as repeated repairs to prevent erosion and expenditures on mitigation, when designating beaches as critically eroded and in need of restoration and nourishment. Furthermore, beaches with certain features, like a local government's commitment to maintenance responsibilities and a plan to manage shoreline retreat, must be designated as critically eroded if the local government has preserved funds for this purpose. The bill also empowers the Secretary of the DEP to mandate that coastal local governments develop local strategic beach management plans, which must include an analysis of factors like the most visited recreational facilities, research centers, shoreline protection areas, compound flooding, property values, environmentally sensitive lands, and recommendations from coastal engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the bill revises the criteria for designating areas as having a critical state concern to include low-lying areas immediately inland of dunes and beaches that are prone to repeated flooding or overtopping by seawater, or have been declared disaster areas for extended periods. Finally, it makes technical changes to conform existing statutes to these amendments and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee (House)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1297