Senate committee adopts amendment recognizing coral reefs as "critical natural infrastructure" and advances SB 1422

Senator Garcia presented a strike-all amendment to SB 1422 to designate Florida’s coral reefs as "critical natural infrastructure," saying, "Florida's coral reefs are invaluable." The amendment frames reefs as a nature-based solution to climate-related risks and aims to streamline permitting and access to federal funds for restoration, naming Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties as areas of public interest.

The amendment also highlights the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s technical and financial role in hazard mitigation, citing prior initiatives in Puerto Rico and Hawaii as models for federal participation. Senator Garcia told the panel the measure "strengthens our commitment to coral reef protection and disaster resilience." An appearance form was filed by Elizabeth Alvey, waiving in support on behalf of Audubon Florida.

Senator Harrell asked about deleted dredging and turbidity-monitoring provisions; members confirmed the strike-all removes certain dredging/filling language and directs the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt implementing rules. After brief questioning and no further debate, the committee adopted the amendment and the chair reported the committee substitute for SB 1422 favorably.

The committee action advances the bill to the next legislative step with an amended text that emphasizes reef protection, regulatory streamlining, and federal funding access. The committee did not adopt additional funding language on the floor; details about specific federal grants or implementation timetables were not specified during the hearing.

The committee reported the committee substitute for SB 1422 favorably; next steps will be committee transmittal and subsequent floor or chamber scheduling.