SB 50 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resilience

Summary

Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resilience; Specifying that the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation is established within the University of South Florida, rather than within the University of South Florida College of Marine Science; requiring the hub to develop design guidelines and standards for optimal combinations of green and gray infrastructure and to model the effects of conceptual designs of certain green and gray infrastructure; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules for nature-based methods for coastal resilience, etc. APPROPRIATION: $250,000

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 50 c1 → S 50 e1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify that the Florida Flood Hub is established within the University of South Florida College of Marine Science rather than just the university broadly, and added a requirement for an executive director to lead the hub. The Department of Environmental Protection's feasibility study requirements were expanded to specifically address insurance premium reductions and National Flood Insurance Program benefits, with a new deadline of July 1, 2026. A new Section 3 appropriates $250,000 for the study, and Section 4 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025. The bill also added a provision to streamline permitting after storm events for replacing failed infrastructure with green alternatives.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to specify the exact institutional location of the Florida Flood Hub and added specific requirements for leadership structure and insurance-related outcomes.

DEFINITION

Clarified that the Florida Flood Hub is established within the University of South Florida College of Marine Science rather than the university broadly.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the hub to employ an executive director appointed by the University of South Florida President.

Expanded the feasibility study requirements to specifically address reducing insurance premiums and improving National Flood Insurance Program community ratings.

Added provision to streamline permitting after designated storm events for replacing failed coastal infrastructure with green or hybrid green-gray infrastructure.

TIMELINE

Set a specific deadline of July 1, 2026, for submitting the feasibility study report to state leadership.

Added effective date provision setting the act to take effect on July 1, 2025.

FISCAL

Added $250,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the feasibility study.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 19, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment(s) adopted (384900)

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/12/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, 03/05/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Environment and Natural Resources; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 02/11/25, 11:00 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Committee

Referred to Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor