Committee advances bill to create seagrass and sea oats restoration task force

Chairman Brown told the Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit Committee that House Bill 38 would create a task force to develop a long-range plan for seagrass restoration and related shoreline work.

"What this bill does is we actually passed this last year out of the house, passed out of senate committee, and it just didn't get on the last day," Chairman Brown said, describing the proposal and its intent to organize experts and partners to restore lost seagrass habitat. He said the task force would be chaired by the Dolphin Island Sea Lab and would involve the University of South Alabama and other entities.

The committee considered and accepted an amendment that adds language referring to a "Seagrass and sea oats restoration plan" and specifies a "10 year Alabama seagrass and sea oats restoration plan." An unidentified committee member read the amendment into the record before the panel voted.

Representative Marcus moved the amendment; Representative Stringer seconded. Vice Chairman Representative Lipscomb called for the voice vote and announced, "The yeas have it." Following the successful amendment, Marcus moved to report HB38 favorably as amended; Representative Hollis seconded. The committee approved the bill for a favorable report by voice vote.

Why it matters: seagrass beds are critical habitat for fish and other wildlife and help stabilize shorelines. The bill sets up a task force and planning framework intended to guide restoration priorities and tools over the next decade.

Next steps: HB38 now moves from committee with a favorable report to the next stage in the legislative process.