CS for SB 50 First Engrossed 202550e1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to nature-based methods for improving 3 coastal resilience; amending s. 380.0933, F.S.; 4 specifying that the Florida Flood Hub for Applied 5 Research and Innovation is established within the 6 University of South Florida, rather than within the 7 University of South Florida College of Marine Science; 8 requiring the hub to develop design guidelines and 9 standards for optimal combinations of green and gray 10 infrastructure and to model the effects of conceptual 11 designs of certain green and gray infrastructure; 12 providing for the appointment of an executive director 13 to lead the hub; creating s. 380.0938, F.S.; requiring 14 the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt 15 rules for nature-based methods for coastal resilience; 16 providing requirements for such rules; requiring the 17 department, in consultation with the Division of 18 Insurance Agent and Agency Services of the Department 19 of Financial Services, to conduct a statewide 20 feasibility study regarding the value of nature-based 21 methods being used for a specified purpose; requiring 22 the department to submit a report to the Governor and 23 the Legislature by a specified date; providing an 24 appropriation; providing an effective date. 25 26 WHEREAS, the coastline is a critical state resource that 27 benefits the public interest by providing economic benefits, 28 such as flood control, fishing, recreation, and navigation, and 29 natural habitat and biodiversity functions, such as improved 30 water quality and habitat for endangered and threatened species 31 and other flora and fauna, and 32 WHEREAS, rising sea levels and an increasing frequency of 33 adverse weather events pose a significant risk to people and 34 property along the coastline and threaten the public benefits 35 and functions offered by the coastline, and 36 WHEREAS, as identified in the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal 37 Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study, natural infrastructure, 38 including mangrove stands, living seawalls, and other nature 39 based designs, can play an essential role in improving coastal 40 resilience and mitigating harm to this state’s coastlines, and 41 WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to promote state and local 42 efforts to restore mangrove forests along the coastline and 43 further study the impact of other nature-based methods on this 44 state’s coastal resilience and economic development, NOW, 45 THEREFORE, 46 47 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 48 49 Section 1. Present paragraphs (c) through (i) of subsection 50 (2) of section 380.0933, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 51 paragraphs (e) through (k), respectively, new paragraphs (c) and 52 (d) are added to that subsection, and subsections (1) and (4) of 53 that section are amended, to read: 54 380.0933 Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and 55 Innovation.— 56 (1) The Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and 57 Innovation is established within the University of South Florida 58College of Marine Scienceto coordinate efforts between the 59 academic and research institutions of the state. The University 60 of South FloridaCollege of Marine Science or its successor61entitywill serve as the lead institution and engage other 62 academic and research institutions, private partners, and 63 financial sponsors to coordinate efforts to support applied 64 research and innovation to address the flooding and sea level 65 rise challenges of the state. 66 (2) The hub shall, at a minimum: 67 (c) Develop design guidelines and standards for optimal 68 combinations of green and gray infrastructure to address sea 69 level rise and the impact of storm surges. 70 (d) Model the effects, including flood risk reduction and 71 socioeconomic benefits, of conceptual designs of green 72 infrastructure and hybrid green-gray infrastructure, and the 73 integration of green natural systems into gray infrastructure 74 systems, on this state’s coastal resilience. 75 (4) The hub shall be led byemployan executive director 76 who is appointed by and reports to the President of the 77 University of South Florida, or the president’s designee. 78 Section 2. Section 380.0938, Florida Statutes, is created 79 to read: 80 380.0938 Nature-based methods for improving coastal 81 resilience.— 82 (1) The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt 83 rules governing nature-based methods for improving coastal 84 resilience. The rules must do all of the following: 85 (a) Address significant erosion in areas of critical state 86 concern. 87 (b) Identify ways that new developments can avoid or 88 mitigate their impacts on mangrove stands. 89 (c) Encourage local governmental entities to develop or 90 participate in: 91 1. Mangrove replanting and hydrological restoration 92 programs; and 93 2. Restoration of oyster reefs, salt marshes, and coral 94 reefs. 95 (d) Identify and monitor threats to mangroves. 96 (e) Protect barrier and spoil islands. 97 (f) Assist efforts to improve coastal resilience through 98 the use of green infrastructure, beach renourishment, dune 99 restoration, living seawalls, shoreline and vegetation planting, 100 stormwater planters, permeable pavements, and ecologically sound 101 building materials. 102 (g) Promote public awareness of the value of green 103 infrastructure and statewide education campaigns conducted by 104 local governmental entities. 105 (h) Identify vulnerable public and private properties along 106 the coastline and encourage partnerships with local governmental 107 entities to create local protection and restoration zone 108 programs for implementing the rules developed by the department 109 pursuant to this section. 110 (i) Protect and maintain access to and navigation of the 111 marked channel and the right-of-way of the Florida Intracoastal 112 Waterway as defined in s. 327.02. 113 (j) Create permitting incentives and approvals of, and 114 encourage the use of, new strategies and technologies, such as 115 3D printing, for living shorelines and nature-based features for 116 coastal protection. 117 (k) Assist in the development of workforce training in this 118 state which includes flood and sea level rise research, 119 prediction, and adaptation and mitigation strategies. The 120 department shall provide incentives to local communities that 121 apply for funding through the Workforce Development 122 Capitalization Incentive Grant Program pursuant to s. 1011.801 123 to implement such workforce training. 124 (l) Encourage partnerships with local governmental entities 125 to create projects using green infrastructure for coastal 126 protection through the Resilient Florida Grant Program pursuant 127 to s. 380.093(3)(b)1.d. 128 (m) Develop guidelines for determining when a green 129 infrastructure project is clearly in the public interest under 130 s. 373.414(1)(a). 131 (n) Streamline the permitting process under s. 373.4131 for 132 green infrastructure projects. 133 (o) Streamline permitting after designated storm events or 134 disasters to replace failed coastal infrastructure with green or 135 hybrid green-gray infrastructure that follows established green 136 and green-gray design guidelines. 137 (2) The department, in consultation with the Division of 138 Insurance Agent and Agency Services, shall conduct a statewide 139 feasibility study to determine the value of nature-based methods 140 for coastal flood risk reduction within coastal communities to 141 reduce insurance premiums and improve local governments’ 142 community ratings in the National Flood Insurance Program 143 Community Rating System. The department shall submit a report on 144 the findings of the study to the Governor, the President of the 145 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 146 1, 2026. 147 Section 3. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of 148 $250,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Resilient Florida Trust 149 Fund is appropriated to the Department of Environmental 150 Protection to conduct the feasibility study for coastal flood 151 risk reduction required by this act. 152 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.