05 • 08 • 2017
Stop Bad Beach Access Bill!
In the final weeks of the 2017 Legislative Session, Representative Katie Edwards filed legislation and an amendment that would block local governments from protecting public access to beaches. The bill, HB 735, would preempt local governments from passing or enforcing any local customary use ordinances- such as the local ordinance that recently took effect in Walton County. We must stop this bad beach access bill!
The bad beach access langugage was inserted into HB 735 in its last committee stop, with almost no opportunity for public input. Despite substantial public opposition, the bill passed the full House. The Surfrider Foundation worked hard to oppose HB 735 and to keep any anti-customary use language out of the Senate. Thankfully, Senator Passidomo, bill sponsor for the Senate companion, refused to add the bad customary use language to her bill. We are pleased to report that HB 735 died at the end of session.