DeSantis signs living‑shoreline bill
Florida Governor DeSantis signed a bill boosting nature‑based coastline protection—funding mangrove planting, oyster reef restoration and hybrid solutions—creating new hooks for eco‑tourism and sustainability partnerships in the state. The move opens collaboration opportunities with state agencies and conservation groups for creators focused on local environmental storytelling. (wusf.org)
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 1417 into law on March 19, 2026. (flgov.com) SB 302 creates a new statutory section, s.380.0938, that directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop design guidelines and standards for nature‑based coastal methods and to adopt a statewide permitting rule by January 1, 2027. (flsenate.gov) The measure formally designates the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve and prohibits the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund from approving dredging or filling of the preserve’s submerged lands except for narrowly defined public‑benefit reasons. (flsenate.gov) CS/CS/CS/HB 1417 restructures statutory authority at the DEP, removes provisions creating the Environmental Regulation Commission, and expedites rulemaking and permitting processes tied to coastal resiliency and related infrastructure projects. (flhouse.gov) Both bills take effect July 1, 2026, and the enacted language explicitly makes living‑shoreline projects eligible to access Resilient Florida grant funding; the state committed more than $200 million toward statewide resilience for fiscal year 2025–26. (wusf.org) Sen. Ileana García is the prime Senate sponsor of SB 302 and lawmakers highlighted local protections (including comments from Rep. Will Robinson at the signing); the DEP is also required to submit a study report to the Governor and legislative leaders by July 1, 2027. (legiscan.com) SB 302 also requires the DEP and local governments to promote public awareness and education on nature‑based coastal solutions, creating formal state channels for outreach, local partnerships and grant‑ready project development. (flsenate.gov)
