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
   58  College of Marine Science to coordinate efforts between the
   59  academic and research institutions of the state. The University
   60  of South Florida College of Marine Science or its successor
   61  entity will 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 by employ an 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         380.0938Nature-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.