SB 1422 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Coral Reefs

SB 1422 designates Florida's coral reefs as "critical natural infrastructure" and a nature-based solution for mitigating climate risks like storms and flooding, specifically protecting reefs in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties. The bill establishes a tiered penalty system for reef damage: fines start at $225 for minor damage (≤1 sq. m) and rise to $1,500 per square meter for extensive harm (>10 sq. m), with multipliers for repeat offenses (up to quadruple penalties). It also clarifies the Department of Environmental Protection as the state's lead agency for reef protection and allows habitat equivalency analysis for calculating compensation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

S 1422 Filed → S 1422 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift its focus from general surface water protection to specific coral reef conservation. The new version removes the original requirement for a uniform mitigation assessment method for wetlands and replaces it with a detailed penalty schedule for damaging coral reefs, while adding a new provision allowing the use of habitat equivalency analysis for calculating compensation in coral reef cases.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from covering all surface waters and wetlands to focusing exclusively on coral reefs in specific coastal counties, while removing the broader mandate for a state-wide uniform mitigation assessment method.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and adopt a uniform mitigation assessment method for wetlands and other surface waters.

Modified the bill to allow the department to use habitat equivalency analysis specifically for calculating compensation for coral reef damage, rather than as a general rule for all wetland mitigation.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific civil penalty schedule for vessel groundings and anchoring on coral reefs, ranging from $225 for minor damage to up to $375,000 per occurrence for major damage.

SCOPE

Expanded the legislative designation to explicitly name Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties as areas where coral protection is in the public interest.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor