APPROPRIATIONS

Regarding the budget, it is a tight year. Projections show the state will be in a budget surplus this year, but expenditures will outstrip revenues by $1.5B in FY 2027-28 and by as much as $6.6B in FY 2028-29. Given the looming deficit, the chambers are reigning in spending across all budget areas. The House and Senate released their respective budgets Week 6, and as expected, spending is reduced. The Senate’s budget comes in at $115B, while the House’s tops out at $113.6B. For our direct beach management concerns, the Senate put in $64.1M with associated proviso to adjust spending within the ranked list. The House put in the base recurring amount of $50M with the usual proviso.

STATEWIDE BEACH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET LINE ITEMS

As mentioned above, the chambers have a lot of negotiating to do and not a lot of time to accomplish it. With different beach and inlet spending, our line item will be the subject of budget conference. The specific line items and proviso language are:

Senate Budget Bill (SB 2500)

1883 GRANTS AND AIDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONSTATE ENTITIES - FIXED CAPITAL OUTLAY BEACH PROJECTS - STATEWIDE FROM LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND . . 64,141,067

Funds in Specific Appropriation 1883 are provided to the Department of Environmental Protection for distribution to beach and inlet management projects consistent with any component of the comprehensive long-term management plan developed in accordance with section 161.161, Florida Statutes. Funds shall be used to fund post-construction monitoring and projects 1 through 4 on the Strategic Beach Management Plan and projects 1 through 6 on the Inlet Management Plan.

House Budget Bill (HB 5001)

1883 GRANTS AND AIDS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONSTATE ENTITIES - FIXED CAPITAL OUTLAY BEACH PROJECTS - STATEWIDE FROM LAND ACQUISITION TRUST FUND . . 50,000,000

Funds in Specific Appropriation 1883 are provided to the Department of Environmental Protection for distribution to beach and inlet management projects consistent with any component of the comprehensive long-term management plan developed in accordance with section 161.161, Florida Statutes. Funds may be used in accordance with section 161.101, Florida Statutes, for projects on annual ranked lists, storm repair projects, or projects on lands managed by the state.

POLICY BILL UPDATES

As for policy, this has been an unexpectedly busy year for FSBPA and our advocacy program. We had to mobilize on a beach management bill that could have negatively impacted the existing beach program and got clarifying amendments on several others that were tangential to our interests.

SB 636 (Leek)/HB 1297 (Greco) – Beach Management

FSBPA and a coalition of local governments opposed the bill as drafted, although we supported the underlying concept of creating an administrative path for critical erosion designations. Ultimately, there was too much opposition and not enough time for the sponsors to negotiate fixes, and the bill was held in both chambers pending compromise language. Even though it passed all its Senate committees and was prepped for floor action, the House bill did not make the final agenda of the (H) State Affairs Committee agenda, and its fate was sealed. We will keep a watchful eye out for amendments on other bills it could be tacked onto, but even then, it cannot be the entirety of the bill. FSBPA will work with the sponsors and DEP on other avenues to address their community’s concerns, which hopefully alleviates the need for it to be filed again next year.

SB 1234 (DiCeglie)/HB 803 (Trabulsy, Overdorf) – Budling Permits and Inspections is poised for passage this week. All that remains is Senate action on the House bill, which passed last week.

The only relevant part of this bill we advocated for changes to relates to exempting temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers under certain circumstances from permitting requirements and providing that permits may not be required for retaining walls on single- or two-family dwellings or townhouses. Initially, the Senate version did not include the requirement that such walls or barriers be temporary to qualify for the exemption.

In relevant part, the bill:

• Creates an exception to the prohibition on permitting temporary residential hurricane or flood protection walls or barriers, allowing a local government to require a permit when necessary to ensure compliance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements;
• Revises the retaining wall provision to directly prohibit local governments from requiring a separate permit for each parcel on which a retaining wall is constructed, rather than directing the Florida Building Commission to amend the building code to impose that prohibition; and
• Clarifies that s. 553.79(1), F.S., regarding the prohibition on permits for certain construction work, does not limit a local government’s authority to ensure compliance with NFIP requirements.

With the inclusion of “temporary” for the walls and barriers, we are now neutral.

SB 302 (Garcia)/HB 1035 (Mooney) – Nature-based Coastal Resiliency passed the Senate last week and was received by the House. There are differences to be rectified before the bill can pass, and if the House does not agree with the Senate’s position, there are three options: 1) the House will amend the Senate bill and bounce it back to Senate; 2) the House will accede to the Senate’s changes and pass the bill; or 3) the bill will die.

The bill creates several provisions related to using nature-based methods to improve coastal resiliency. Specifically, it:

• Requires the DEP to initiate rulemaking to establish a statewide permitting process for such nature-based methods (Senate only).
• Requires DEP to develop design guidelines and standards for using green or hybrid green-gray infrastructure to address coastal resiliency.
• Requires DEP and local governments to promote public awareness and education of the value of nature-based solutions for coastal resiliency.
• Authorizes structures to be erected for nature-based solutions to improve coastal resiliency in all state preserves.
• Authorizes dredging and filling of submerged lands and placement of living shorelines and seawalls in Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve for coastal resiliency purposes.

We are concerned about folding the beach program into more general resilience permitting considering the longstanding success of the beach management program, especially since DEP indicated it would have to change in some measure how the beach and inlet management program is permitted to comply with the bill. As mentioned above, the Senate passed the bill with reference to the beaches and dunes, while the House amendment removed such references. We support the House version.

There are several other bills we are monitoring, e.g. property taxes, in case there are impacts to our programs, but no concerning language has emerged yet. If you would like specific details on any of these bills or the budget, please reach out to me.

2026 Beach Technology Conference Recap

The 2026 National Conference on Beach Preservation Technology, held February 4–6 at the Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Beach, was an incredible success. We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who attended and contributed to the program.

This year’s conference welcomed a record-setting 388 coastal engineers, scientists, consultants, public officials, industry partners, and students for three days of education, collaboration, and networking. Attendees earned 17.5 professional development hours through a comprehensive technical program covering the latest advancements in beach management and coastal resilience.

The Opening Session featured a warm welcome from St. Augustine Beach Mayor Beth Sweeney, followed by strong local presentations, discussions on shelly sand, and a turtle-friendly design panel.Thursday’s breakout sessions offered technical deep dives into sediment dynamics, coastal modeling, erosion control structures, living shorelines, (and more!), while Friday’s closing session brought timely updates on policy, research, and implementation strategies.

Prior to the conference, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented at the 2nd Florida Coastal Dredging Workshop. Their updates on beach and inlet management project schedules helped set the tone for a productive and informative week.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Planning Committee and the FSBPA Board of Directors for their leadership, as well as to our expert speakers, moderators, sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers, whose support ensures the continued success of this leading professional conference in coastal management.

We are especially proud of our Student Scholarship participants. Supporting the next generation of coastal professionals is a priority, and these students gained valuable exposure to real-world projects and professional mentorship. Special thanks to Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc., the West Coast Inland Navigation District, and the Sebastian Inlet District for sponsoring this important program.

The record attendance and extensive technical exchange help to underscore the why it is important for us to continue advocating for state and federal investment in Florida’s beaches and sound policy for the beach management program. We look forward to continuing the conversation at the 2026 Florida Resilience Conference (FRC) in September.

Student Poster Presentation Scholarship Winners

Pictured from left to right: Justin McBride, James Gray, Sydney Garber, Holyn Hahn, Kayla Mosteller, Kayla O'Brien, Michael Poff, Tori Guarino, Stasia Pietraszun, Sydney Scott, Lara Novalvos Hernandez

With the generous support of Coastal Engineering Consultants, West Coast Inland Navigation District, and Sebastian Inlet District, FSBPA awarded scholarships to four outstanding students from Florida universities to attend the Beach Preservation Technology Conference.

In total, nine students submitted abstracts and participated in the conference as poster presenters, showcasing their research and contributing to important conversations about Florida’s coastal future.

These opportunities are vital to the professional growth of Florida’s future coastal scientists, engineers, and policymakers.

Special thanks to our committee of judges Justin McBride, James Gray, and Michael Poff, for mentoring and inspiring students throughout the event. 

First Place Winner Tori Guarino is a Ph.D. student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida. Tori’s advisor is Dr. Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Associate Professor, and her research focuses on guiding restoration through genetics by evaluating smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) variation across natural, donor, and restored Florida marshes.

"It was meaningful to attend and present at the 39th National Conference on Beach Preservation Technology, where I was surrounded by such involved and passionate professionals in our field. This national professional conference not only provided me with new knowledge about projects and research happening in shoreline and beach preservation, but it also gave me the opportunity to connect with professionals I see myself becoming one day. I see them as role models for how I hope to impact the field of shorelines and beach preservation." - Tori Guarino

Second Place Winner Sydney Garber is a master’s student in Environmental Science at Florida Atlantic University. Sydney’s advisor is Dr. Tiffany Roberts Briggs, and her research focuses on the influence of living shorelines on coastal morphology and sedimentology in Palm Beach County.

"I had a great experience presenting a research poster and attending FSBPA’s Tech conference this year. As a graduate student in Environmental Science, it is important for me to be able to share my research to various audiences, as well as learning about current technologies in our field. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to attending FSBPA conferences in the future!" - Sydney Garber

“It was a meaningful experience to be able to present my master’s research at the FSBPA Conference, and an honor to be selected as one of the Student Award Winners. As someone whose research pertains to the use of plants in coastal restoration, it was a full-circle moment to hear about all the amazing coastal engineering projects and geomorphology research that brings together all pieces of the puzzle.” - Stasia Pietraszun

Thank you to our 2026 Beach Technology Conference Exhibitors!

FSBPA at Florida Ocean's Day 2026

FSBPA was excited to participate in February’s Florida Oceans Day events at the Florida Capitol, including the Exhibits & Fish Fry and the Florida Ocean Alliance (FOA) Luncheon. 

At the luncheon, we heard from Florida Representative Chip LaMarca regarding his efforts to help establish the state’s Office of Ocean Economy. We also heard from Colin Polsky, PhD, of Florida Atlantic University, who leads this state-supported initiative focused on strengthening Florida’s ocean and coastal industries — sectors that drive jobs, investment, and innovation across the state.

Secretary Alexis Lambert of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) also addressed attendees, highlighting the Governor’s environmental accomplishments and outlining several agency policy priorities for the current Legislative Session.

The Florida Institute of Oceanography’s annual Ocean’s Day Exhibits & Fish Fry was exceptionally well attended and provided valuable opportunities to connect with state university professors and students, coastal resilience stakeholders, and private-sector firms – including our friends at Cummins Cederberg and Moffatt & Nichol.

Florida Oceans Day continues to emphasize the importance of collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to support sound coastal policy and sustained investment in our marine and shoreline resources. As legislative and budget discussions advance this Session, FSBPA remains committed to ensuring Florida’s beaches and ocean economy receive the attention necessary to preserve our coastal communities and environment. 

FDEP Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection - March 2026

Local Government Funding Request (LGFR) FY2026-27 

The LGFR included 27 ranked beach projects at $128.5 million, and $2.2 million in  

beach monitoring for a total of $130.75 million. The inlet list was comprised of 7 projects at $51.9 million and monitoring at $1.1 million for a total of $53.1 million. The total combined request was for $183,884,822.75. Learn more here.

Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) Rulemaking  

The department is continuing the process of rule amendments to the CCCL Rule 62B-33, F.A.C. Chapter 62B-33, F.A.C. provides procedures for permits for coastal construction and excavation seaward of the coastal construction control line.The rules include definitions, exemptions, general criteria, application requirements and procedures for areawide and individual permits, procedures for coastal armoring and related structures, survey requirements and electronic submittal information. The proposed changes to the rules in chapter 62B-33, F.A.C., will provide necessary form updates and add clarity to the rule consistent with statutory language. Comments received following the fall workshop have been reviewed and incorporated into the draft rule where warranted. The next step will be a Notice of Proposed Rule that will be published in the Florida Administrative Registrar. 

New Coastal Engineering and Geology (CEG) Member 

Christopher Olsen, M.S. is a new Environmental Specialist with CEG. He has a BA in Geology from San Fransico University, a Master’s degree from University of Nebraskan in Natural Resources and is close to obtaining his PhD from FAMU/FSU in Civil Engineering with an environmental focus. He will be responsible for reviewing and providing specific engineering responses for project scope of work documents and permit-related documents, beach and inlet management strategies and program development. Welcome Christopher! 

Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve Management Plan 

Numerous meetings and workshops have been held to draft the management plan for our newest aquatic preserve. Multiple stakeholders from densely developed south Florida have been involved, including staff from the Beaches, Inlets and Ports program. The next step is review by the Acquisition and Restoration Council. The draft plan may be found here.

Hurricane Milton Emergency Final Order (EFO) Extended 

The Governor’s Executive Order for Hurricane Milton was extended for another 60 days. The EFO now expires on March 24, 2026. The Debbie and Helen EO/EFO is extended until March 7, 2026. 

US Army Corps of Engineers – Jacksonville District FSBPA Board of Directors  

 February 2026 Program Updates 

PROGRAM & POLICY UPDATES: 

• New/On-going Feasibility Studies: FIVE STUDIES ON-GOING – TWO PAUSED 
• Ft. Pierce, FL – CSRM (203) at OASA(CW)  
• St. Augustine Back Bay, FL – CSRM  
• Daytona Beach, FL – FRM  
• Miami Dade County Back Bay, FL – CSRM  
• Charlotte County, FL – CSRM   
• Key Biscayne Back Bay, FL – CSRM (Paused) 
• Collier County Back Bay, FL – CSRM  (Paused) 

• Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations: 
• Investigations: 
• Ft. Pierce PED - $500,000 
• Ponte Vedra - $1,305,000 

• Construction: 
•  0 

• FCCE Damage Repairs (~$458M) Approved  
• (DRA2019 - $81,645,293 | FY23 & FY25 DRSAA $393,401,200) 

(Full template repairs at 100% Federal Cost)  

• Project Implementation Reports (PIR)  
• Negative Reports: Nassau, Duval, Vilano, St. Augustine, Flagler 
• On-going Reports: Jupiter Carlin  

* Project was advertised on 23 FEB 2026. Bid Opening is scheduled for 24 FEB 2026 

**Funding provided via New Pass Navigation Project.  

• Projects highlighted in blue are on track to award in Fiscal Year FY2026.  
• Projects highlighted in red are on standby pending non-Federal sponsor acquisition of easements.  
• Additional Civil Works Budget Information is available here. 

PERSONNEL UPDATES:

• Executive Leadership for Jacksonville District: 
• Colonel Brandon L. Bowman, Commander 
• MAJ Matthew Westcott, Deputy Commander 
• Howard Gonzales, Jr. Deputy District Engineer for Programs & Project Management 
• Jason Engle, Chief of Engineering  
• Angela Dunn, Chief of Planning 
• Aldone Graham, Chief of Contracting 
• Shawn Zinszer, Chief of Regulatory 
• Eugene Morisani, Chief of Construction 
• VACANT, Chief of Operations 
• Elizabeth Vavrica, Chief of Counsel 

Florida Beaches Top the Charts!

Florida’s beaches earned half of the Top 14 “Best of the Best” Beaches in the United States, according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. 

TripAdvisor grants its highest level of recognition to destinations that receive a high volume of exceptional reviews and ratings from travelers over a 12-month period. 

Among the nationally recognized fan favorites are Clearwater Beach (#2), Siesta Beach (#6), St. Andrews State Park (#8), Honeymoon Island State Park (#10), Panama City Beach (#11), Sombrero Beach (#12), and Hollywood Beach (#14). 

This recognition reinforces a simple and lasting message: Florida’s beaches are vital to the state’s economic prosperity and our quality of life. As we celebrate this achievement, we must also remind policymakers and community leaders that continued investment, management, and protection are essential to ensure these treasured resources do not fall into disrepair. 

Reminder: Submit your abstract for the 2026 Florida Resilience Conference by March 31st

FSBPA and Resiliency Florida invite abstract submissions for the 5th Annual Florida Resilience Conference, to be held September 23–25, 2026, at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. 

The conference program will feature four concurrent tracks focusing on Beach Management, Energy, Gray and Green Infrastructure, and Smart Planning. 

🔹 Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026 

🔹 Location: Sunseeker Resort, Charlotte Harbor, FL

🔹 Conference Dates: September 23–25, 2026 

For full details on abstract topics and submission guidelines, please visit here or contact us at mail@fsbpa.com. 

We look forward to your participation! 

PO Box 13146, Tallahassee FL 32317

Phone: (850) 906-9227 • mail@fsbpa.com