SB 32 — Mangrove Replanting and Restoration

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 32 By Senatorthe GarciaCommittee 36-00258-24on 202432__Environment A bill to be entitled An act relating to mangrove replanting and restoration;Natural Resources;

and Senators Garcia and Avila 592-01782-24 202432c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to mangrove replanting and restoration;

requiring the department, in consultation with the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services, to conduct a statewide feasibility study regarding the use of mangroves and other nature-based solutions in order to improve a local government’s community rating for flood insurance purposes;

requiring a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;

9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

SubsectionSubsections (7) isand (8) are added to section 403.9324, Florida Statutes, to read:

(c) Assist Everglades restoration and Biscayne Bay revitalization efforts, including the development of living shorelinePage design1 optionsof for3 theCODING: Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve which are ecologically acceptable and consistent with s.

258.397.

(d) Promote public awareness of the value of mangroves statewide and support mangrove education campaigns conducted by local governmental entities.

(e) Identify vulnerable public and private properties along Page 1 of 2 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 32 36-00258-24592-01782-24 202432__202432c1 theshoreline coastlinedesign andoptions encouragefor partnershipsthe withBiscayne localBay governmentalAquatic entitiesPreserve towhich createare localecologically mangroveacceptable protection and restorationconsistent zonewith programss. for implementing the rules developed by the department pursuant to this subsection.

258.397.

(d) Promote public awareness of the value of mangroves statewide and support mangrove education campaigns conducted by local governmental entities.

(e) Identify vulnerable public and private properties along the coastline and encourage partnerships with local governmental entities to create local mangrove protection and restoration zone programs for implementing the rules developed by the department pursuant to this subsection.

Section(g) 2.Create permitting incentives and approve of and encourage the use of new strategies for living shorelines and nature-based features, such as mangroves for coastal protection.

(h) Encourage partnerships with local governmental entities to create projects for coastal protection through the Resilient Florida Grant Program pursuant to s.

380.093(3)(b)1.c.

(8) The department, in consultation with the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services, shall conduct a statewide feasibility study to determine the value of mangroves and other 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.

The department shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 1, 2025.

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Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 32 592-01782-24 202432c1 Section 2.

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