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Committee backs pilot to inventory dry sandy beaches intended to expand public access options
Summary
CS/SB 1792 passed committee with amendments to establish a pilot program and tools to acquire dry sandy beaches for public access. Sponsor said the program would be voluntary and would not involve takings; critics and some members pressed for clarity on tax treatment and parcel-by-parcel access complications.
Senate Bill 1792, a proposal to authorize state trustees to acquire or accept conservation easements on dry sandy beaches and to create a pilot inventory program, was reported favorably by the committee after discussion and a technical amendment.
Sponsor Senator Joe Gruters told the committee the bill aims to craft “win‑win” solutions that expand public access to dry, sandy beaches while respecting private-property rights. Primary provisions include allowing the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (governor and cabinet) to appropriate legislative funds to acquire fee or lesser interests in dry-sandy beaches, adding dry-sandy beaches to the board’s comprehensive statewide five-year plan, expanding membership on the Acquisition and Restoration Council, and directing the Division of State Lands and the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) to run a pilot inventory of potential dry-sandy beaches.
Senators raised questions about opting-in vs. takings, property-tax consequences, and how fragmented parcels would be handled if neighboring parcels block access. Sponsor and staff emphasized the voluntary nature of the program: landowners would opt in via sale or easement; any tax incentives or credits would be determined after eligibility and council review. Senator Harrell asked whether the program would amount to a taking; Gruters clarified that participation is voluntary and would include negotiated tax or easement arrangements.
One late-filed technical amendment cleaned up statutory office names and removed unneeded criteria; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association waved support; no public opponents spoke at length.
Votes at committee: CS for SB 1792 reported favorably.
Next steps: The pilot inventory and stakeholder guidance will determine how the program would operate if the Legislature later authorizes acquisitions or incentives.
