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Committee adds local appointee and sea‑oats language to seagrass restoration bill
Summary
Senate Bill 124, establishing a seagrass restoration task force, was amended to include propagation of sea oats and to add a county‑commission appointee; the committee gave the bill a favorable report to align Senate and House versions.
A Senate committee on Monday amended Senate Bill 124, a measure to establish a seagrass restoration task force, to add language about sea‑oat propagation and to include a county‑commission appointee so the Senate and House versions align.
Senate members discussed the ecological role of seagrass and the added authority for a restoration committee to study whether changes to the existing state prohibition on harvesting sea oats for propagation would be appropriate in some locations. Beth Lions, who introduced herself on the floor and said she represents the City of Mobile and the county commission, asked that the amendment add a member appointed by the county commission to ensure local permitting entities are represented.
Senators approved the amendment by voice vote and moved the bill forward; the committee recorded a favorable report on the bill. Sponsors said the change would allow entities such as the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to propagate and transplant vegetation — seagrass and, in some cases, sea oats — to improve shoreline and nearshore habitat.
The committee did not record a detailed roll‑call vote in the transcript. Further drafting is expected to reconcile language between the chamber versions and to specify permitting responsibilities.
