S 1422

Florida Senate - 2026  CS for SB 1422
By the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; and
Senators Garcia and Jones
592-02472-26  20261422c1
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to coral reefs; amending s. 403.93345,
3F.S.; revising legislative findings; providing a
4legislative designation; providing an effective date.
5
6Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
7
8Section 1. Present subsections (5) through (12) of section
9403.93345, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
10through (13), respectively, a new subsection (5) is added to
11that section, and subsection (4) and present subsections (7) and
12(8) of that section are amended, to read:
13403.93345 Coral reef protection.—
14(4)(a) The Legislature finds that coral reefs are valuable
15natural resources that contribute ecologically, aesthetically,
16and economically to the state. Therefore, the Legislature
17declares it is in the best interest of the state to clarify the
18department’s powers and authority to protect coral reefs through
19timely and efficient recovery of monetary damages resulting from
20vessel groundings and anchoring-related injuries.
21(b)The Legislature further finds that coral reefs can help
22mitigate the risks and related loss and damage from floods,
23climate change, and natural disasters. The Legislature
24recognizes that studies have shown that healthy coral reefs can
25protect coastal properties from climate change-related risks and
26disaster events, including storms, high wave events, sea level
27rise, and flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
28(FEMA) is responsible for responding to natural disasters and
29providing technical and financial hazard mitigation support,
30primarily distributed as grant funding through FEMA’s hazard
31mitigation assistance programs. Coral reef restoration for risk
32reduction, known as CR4, is an active restoration strategy with
33the aim of increasing the structural integrity and complexity of
34coral reef ecosystems to attenuate wave energy and reduce
35coastal flooding. Legislative recognition of coral reefs as
36critical natural infrastructure and a nature-based solution
37demonstrates political support for nature-based solutions.
38(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department
39be recognized as the state’s lead trustee for coral reef
40resources located within waters of the state or on sovereignty
41submerged lands unless preempted by federal law. This section
42does not divest other state agencies and political subdivisions
43of the state of their interests in protecting coral reefs.
44(5)The Legislature designates coral reefs as critical
45natural infrastructure and as a nature-based solution that helps
46mitigate climate change-related risks and disaster events,
47including storms, high wave events, sea level rise, and
48flooding. As such, the Legislature further designates the
49protection of corals, coral reefs, and coral reef-associated
50hardbottom in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm
51Beach Counties as being in the public interest.
52(8)[(7)] The department may use habitat equivalency analysis
53as the method by which the compensation described in subsection
54(7) [(5)] is calculated. The parameters for calculation by this
55method may be prescribed by rule adopted by the department.
56(9)[(8)] In addition to the compensation described in
57subsection (7) [(5)], the department may assess, per occurrence,
58civil penalties according to the following schedule:
59(a) For any anchoring of a vessel on a coral reef or for
60any other damage to a coral reef totaling less than or equal to
61an area of 1 square meter, $225, provided that a responsible
62party who has anchored a recreational vessel as defined in s.
63327.02 which is lawfully registered or exempt from registration
64pursuant to chapter 328 is issued, at least once, a warning
65letter in lieu of penalty; with aggravating circumstances, an
66additional $225; occurring within a state park or aquatic
67preserve, an additional $225.
68(b) For damage totaling more than an area of 1 square meter
69but less than or equal to an area of 10 square meters, $450 per
70square meter; with aggravating circumstances, an additional $450
71per square meter; occurring within a state park or aquatic
72preserve, an additional $450 per square meter.
73(c) For damage exceeding an area of 10 square meters,
74$1,500 per square meter; with aggravating circumstances, an
75additional $1,500 per square meter; occurring within a state
76park or aquatic preserve, an additional $1,500 per square meter.
77(d) For a second violation, the total penalty may be
78doubled.
79(e) For a third violation, the total penalty may be
80tripled.
81(f) For any violation after a third violation, the total
82penalty may be quadrupled.
83(g) The total of penalties levied may not exceed $375,000
84per occurrence.
85Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.