Ileana Garcia champions coastal protection with nature-powered bill

Sen. Ileana Garcia wants to establish a framework to protect Florida’s coastlines.

The Miami Republican filed legislation (SB 302) that would implement nature-based infrastructure strategies to better protect coastlines from the effects of flooding, erosion, and storm surge.

The bill further aims to promote ecological restoration and economic resilience in the wake of major storm events.

Nature-based strategies to protect coastal communities and restore natural habitats include promoting beach renourishment, reinforcing dunes, and restoring wetlands. This would also involve encouraging living seawalls, shoreline planting, and the use of economically sound building materials.

Several infrastructure types are defined within the legislation. Gray infrastructure is traditional engineered systems, like seawalls and storm drains. Green infrastructure is defined as natural systems, such as wetlands and mangroves, that manage water and reduce flooding. Hybrid systems are defined as the combination of gray and green elements to enhance resilience.

A study by The Nature Conservancy shows that natural ecosystems, such as mangroves along coastlines, can reduce storm surge more effectively than artificial infrastructure, such as concrete sea walls. In contrast, healthy coral reefs can reduce 97% of a wave’s energy before it hits the shore.

Research also found that 100 meters (328 feet) of mangrove trees can reduce wave height by 66%. TNC adds that mangroves protected approximately 625,000 people and prevented $1.5 billion in damage during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Under the legislation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be responsible for developing rules and guidelines for nature-based coastal resilience strategies, which include information on methods and practices to mitigate erosion in critical areas, protect and restore mangrove stands, and restore oyster reefs, coral reefs, salt marshes, barrier islands and spoil islands.

The DEP would be responsible for conducting its own statewide feasibility study on how nature-based solutions can reduce coastal flood risks, lower insurance premiums, and improve community ratings in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program.

In addition, the DEP would collaborate with the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services to assess the impact on insurance.

Local governments would help to identify vulnerable properties and create local protection zones. They would also provide permitting for innovative technologies such as 3D-printed living shorelines and support educational campaigns on nature-based solutions.

The development of training programs in flood modeling, sea level rise adaptation, and mitigation would be required, and incentives could be offered through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program.

DEP would develop methods to streamline permitting for green and hybrid infrastructure, especially after a disaster, and model the projected benefits of flood risk reduction and socioeconomic and environmental gains.

The bill would appropriate $250,000 from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the feasibility study.

Garcia proposed a similar measure (SB 50) during the 2025 Legislative Session. However, the bill stalled in the House, despite unanimous support in the Senate.

If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026.