Informing the Legislature that on May 29, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2395 HD2 SD1 CD1 (ACT 063).

This bill, known as Act 063, authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue permits allowing the collection of marine deposits like sand, dead coral, and rocks for specific purposes such as research, education, and environmental management. Previously, existing laws prohibited taking these materials from state waters, but this legislation creates a legal pathway for their removal under controlled conditions. The law mandates that collected resources be returned to the beach whenever possible and requires that the activity poses no more than a minimal risk to the environment. Additionally, the bill expands existing exceptions to include taking materials for responding to public emergencies or disasters.