SB 302 — Coastal Resiliency

Oyster reef, salt marsh, and coral reef restoration.

(d) Create mechanisms that identify and monitor threats to mangroves.

(e) Provide for the protection of barrier and spoil islands.

(f) Provide a framework for the implementation of nature- based solutions, which must include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:

1.

Beach renourishment.

EnterDune intorestoration agreements for the exchange of, and exchange,reinforcement. sovereignty lands for privately owned lands.

AcceptWetland giftsrestoration. of land within or contiguous to the preserve.

NegotiateReef for,restoration. and enter into agreements with owners of lands contiguous to sovereignty lands for, any public and private use of any of such lands.

TakeLiving anyseawalls. and all actions convenient for, or necessary to, the accomplishment of any and all of the acts and matters authorized by this paragraph.

ConductShoreline restoration and enhancementvegetation effortsplanting. in Biscayne Bay and its tributaries.

StabilizeStormwater erodingplanters. shorelines of Biscayne Bay and its tributaries that are contributing to turbidity by planting natural vegetation to the greatest extent feasible and by the placement of riprap and living shorelines and seawalls, as determined by Miami-Dade County in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection.

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Permeable pavements.

9.

Ecologically sound building materials.

10.

Green infrastructure.

(g) Provide a framework for local governments to identify Page 3 of 5 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 302 601-02524-26592-01713-26 2026302c22026302c1 8.vulnerable public and private properties along coastlines so that such entities may create local protection and restoration zone programs or projects that implement nature-based solutions through the Resilient Florida Grant Program pursuant to s.

Request380.093(3). the South Florida Water Management District to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Biscayne National Park Service, the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management and, at their option, the Corps of Engineers to include enhanced marine productivity in Biscayne Bay as an objective when operating the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control projects consistently with the goals of the water management district, including flood protection, water supply, and environmental protection.

Section(h) 2.Encourage local governments to promote awareness of the value of nature-based solutions, including wetland and floodplain preservation and restoration, through education campaigns.

Paragraph(i) (e)Provide offor subsectionthe (3)protection, maintenance, continued access to, and navigation of sectionthe 258.42,marked channel and the right- of-way of the Florida Statutes,Intracoastal isWaterway amendedas todefined read:in s.

258.42 Maintenance of preserves.—The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall maintain such aquatic preserves subject to the following provisions:

(3) (e) Structures may not be erected within the preserve, except:

1.

Private residential docks may be approved for reasonable ingress or egress of riparian owners.

Slips at private residential single-family docks which contain boat lifts or davits that do not float in the water when loaded may not, in whole or in part, be enclosed by walls, but may be roofed if the roof does not overhang more than 1 foot beyond the footprint of the lift and the boat stored at the lift.

Such roofs are not included in the square-footage calculation of a terminal platform.

2.

Private residential multislip docks may be approved if located within a reasonable distance of a publicly maintained Page 4 of 8 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 302 601-02524-26 2026302c2 navigation channel, or a natural channel of adequate depth and width to allow operation of the watercraft for which the docking facility is designed without the craft having an adverse impact on marine resources.

The distance shall be determined in accordance with criteria established by the trustees by rule, based on the depth of the water, nature and condition of bottom, and presence of manatees.

3.

Commercial docking facilities shown to be consistent with the use or management criteria of the preserve may be approved if the facilities are located within a reasonable distance of a publicly maintained navigation channel, or a natural channel of adequate depth and width to allow operation of the watercraft for which the docking facility is designed without the craft having an adverse impact on marine resources.

The distance shall be determined in accordance with criteria established by the trustees by rule, based on the depth of the water, nature and condition of bottom, and presence of manatees.

4.

Structures for shore protection, including restoration of seawalls at their previous location or upland of or within 18 inches waterward of their previous location, approved navigational aids, or public utility crossings authorized under paragraph (a) may be approved.

5.

Nature-based solutions to improve coastal resiliency, including living seawalls, shoreline and vegetation planting, seagrass planting, wave attenuation devices, and green or hybrid green-gray stormwater infrastructure, which are sited to provide the most appropriate benefit.

A structure under this paragraph or chapter 253 may not be Page 5 of 8 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 302 601-02524-26 2026302c2 prohibited solely because the local government fails to adopt a marina plan or other policies dealing with the siting of such structures in its local comprehensive plan.

Section 3.

Section 380.0938, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

380.0938 Nature-based methods for improving coastal resiliency.— (1) By January 1, 2027, the department shall develop design guidelines and standards for optimal combinations of nature- based methods for using green or hybrid green-gray infrastructure to address coastal resiliency, including local mitigation strategies for erosion control, sea-level rise, and storm surge.

(2) By January 1, 2027, the department must initiate rulemaking, subject to legislative ratification, to provide for a clear and consistent statewide permitting process under s.

373.4131 for nature-based methods for improving coastal resiliency and to address all of the following:

(a) Criteria and thresholds for permits to implement nature-based methods, including monitoring, inspection, and reporting requirements.

(b) Procedures governing the review of applications and notices, duration and modification of permits, operational requirements, and transfers of permits.

(c) Provisions for emergencies, abandonment and removal of systems, and significant erosion in areas of critical state concern.

(d) Exemptions and general permits that do not allow significant adverse impacts to occur individually or Page 6 of 8 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 302 601-02524-26 2026302c2 cumulatively.

(e) Improvement of coastal resiliency using nature-based solutions, including living seawalls, shoreline and vegetation planting, seagrass planting, wave attenuation devices, green or hybrid green-gray stormwater infrastructure, beach renourishment, dune and wetland restoration, reinforced dunes, reef restoration, and ecologically sound building materials.

(f) Protection and maintenance of access to and navigation of the marked channel and the right-of-way of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway as defined in s.

(g)(j) CreationCreate of permitting incentives and approval processes for the use of new strategies and technologies, such as 3D printingprinting, and other forms of manufacturing, for living shorelines and nature-based featuressolutions. for coastal protection.

(h)(k) IncentivesProvide tofor encouragethe localdevelopment governmentalof entitiesworkforce totraining createthat projectsincludes usingflood nature-basedand solutionssea forlevel coastalrise protectionresearch throughmethods, thepredictive Resilientstrategies, Floridaand Grantadaptation Programand pursuantmitigation tostrategies. s.

380.093(3)(b)1.d.The department shall provide incentives to local communities that apply for funding through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program pursuant to s.

(i)1011.801 Guidelinesto forimplement determiningsuch whenworkforce atraining. nature-based solutions project is clearly in the public interest and safety under s.

(l) Develop methodology for determining whether a green infrastructure project is not contrary to the public interest or is clearly in the public interest pursuant to s.

(j)(m) DevelopmentStreamline ofthe a clear and efficient permitting process afterunder designateds. storm events or disasters to replace failed coastal infrastructure with nature-based or green or hybrid green-gray infrastructure that follows established guidelines in subsection (1).

(k)373.4131 Identificationfor ofgreen waysinfrastructure localprojects. governmental entities can participate in coastal resiliency, including:

1.(n) Streamline permitting, after designated storm events or Page 4 of 5 CODING:

Mangrove replanting and hydrological restoration Page 7 of 8 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CSSB 302 592-01713-26 2026302c1 disasters, for SBthe 302replacement 601-02524-26of 2026302c2failed programs.coastal infrastructure with hybrid infrastructure that follows established stormwater infrastructure design guidelines.

2.(o) Provide guidance on the optimal combination of nature- based solutions and hybrid infrastructure to address sea level rise and mitigate the impact of storm surges.

Restoration(p) ofModel oysterthe reefs,projected salteffects, marshes,including seagrassflood beds,risk reduction, socioeconomic benefits, and coralenvironmental reefs.benefits, of the integration of hybrid infrastructure designs.

3.(3) The department, in consultation with the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services within the Department of Financial Services, shall conduct a statewide feasibility study to determine the value of nature-based solutions for coastal flood risk reduction within coastal communities to reduce insurance premiums and improve local governments’ community ratings in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.

IdentificationThe anddepartment monitoringshall submit a report on the findings of threatsthe study to mangroves.the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 1, 2027.

4.Section 2.

ProtectionFor the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sum of barrier$250,000 andin spoilnonrecurring islands.funds from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct the feasibility study for coastal flood risk reduction required by this act.

(3)Section The3. department and local governments shall promote public awareness and education on the value of nature-based solutions for coastal resiliency, including the preservation and restoration of wetlands, floodplains, seagrasses, mangroves, and other natural systems along the coastline.

Section 4.

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