HB 1345 would expand Florida’s public-private partnership framework to explicitly include coastal resiliency projects and give the Department of Environmental Protection exclusive authority to execute those projects under the state’s P3 law. It amends the definition of “qualifying project” in s. 255.065, F.S., to add coastal resiliency projects, while also preserving special designation rules for certain hospital, health care system, and municipal electric utility projects.
The bill creates a new section, s. 380.0934, F.S., defining “coastal resiliency project” broadly to include planning and execution of projects addressing flooding and sea level rise, seawall and stormwater upgrades, property acquisition in flood-prone areas, infrastructure hardening, large-scale flood barriers, and restoration of natural protective systems. It authorizes DEP to use public-private partnerships for these projects and to encourage private investment through long-term revenue-sharing agreements, expedited permitting, public and local input during planning, and workforce training partnerships with vocational schools and apprenticeship programs. The bill also requires biennial progress reports and an online dashboard showing milestones, expenditures, and public benefits.
In practical terms, the bill would change state law by centralizing authority over coastal resiliency P3 projects in DEP and by creating a new statutory structure for financing and managing flood- and sea-level-rise-related infrastructure. It would affect state agencies, local governments, private developers, and communities seeking coastal protection or flood mitigation projects, while also increasing transparency requirements for projects funded through these partnerships.
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so the available sentiment is limited. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears to be framed as a pro-investment, pro-resiliency measure that seeks to speed project delivery and attract private capital while maintaining public oversight through reporting and dashboards.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the concentration of authority in DEP, the use of expedited permitting, and the reliance on long-term revenue-sharing arrangements with private entities. Local governments and members of the public may also scrutinize how much input they have in project selection and execution, while supporters would likely emphasize flood protection, infrastructure hardening, and improved resilience planning.
HB 1345 would amend Florida’s public-private partnership statute to add coastal resiliency projects as a qualifying project type and would create a new statutory section giving the Department of Environmental Protection exclusive authority to carry out those projects through public-private partnerships. It would also establish definitions, authorize financing and permitting tools, and require public reporting and an online dashboard, thereby affecting DEP, local governments, private partners, and communities involved in flood mitigation and coastal protection projects.
No committee transcripts or votes were provided, so there is no direct recorded debate to characterize. The bill’s text suggests a generally supportive, solution-oriented approach focused on resilience, private investment, and transparency, with an emphasis on accelerating infrastructure projects that address flooding, sea level rise, and coastal erosion.
Likely areas of contention include DEP’s exclusive authority over coastal resiliency P3s, the use of expedited permitting, and the scope of private-sector involvement through long-term revenue-sharing agreements. Local governments and the public may want greater control or oversight, while supporters would likely argue that centralized authority and streamlined processes are necessary to move resilience projects forward efficiently.