HB215 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jennifer FidlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Natural Resources, Dept of Conservation may permit residential coastal riparian owners to dredge to create living shorelines

Summary

HB215 would allow residential coastal riparian owners to dredge sediment from their riparian area to build living shorelines, with a reduced permit fee and oversight by state agencies.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to issue permits enabling a residential riparian owner to dredge within their riparian area (or adjacent property with consent) to obtain sand or sediment for constructing a living shoreline. The permit fee would be half the fee charged for dredging for severance from state-owned submerged lands. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management may issue a consistency determination when applicable. The act defines living shoreline and aims to promote natural shoreline restoration to reduce erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and increase coastal resiliency, within a specified Gulf Coast geographic area, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Residential coastal riparian property owners: may dredge within their riparian area (or adjacent property with consent) to obtain sand/sediment for living shoreline construction.
• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: would issue permits and regulate dredging under this act.
• Alabama Department of Environmental Management: may issue a consistency determination when applicable.
• Public and coastal environments: potential benefits include reduced erosion, improved wildlife and fish habitat, and increased coastal infrastructure resiliency.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Joe Faust Living Shoreline Act.
• Defines 'living shoreline' as natural shoreline restoration techniques, including native vegetation, wave attenuation structures, fill, and other methods that allow natural coastal processes to continue.
• Authorizes the State Lands Division to issue a permit to a residential riparian owner (or adjacent owner with consent) to dredge within the riparian area for sand/sediment to be used for living shoreline construction in front of the owner's property.
• Sets the permit fee at one-half of the fee charged for dredge permits for severance of materials from state-owned submerged lands.
• Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to implement and administer the section.
• Not intended to affect title to state-owned submerged lands.
• Geographic scope limited to property along the Gulf of Mexico proper and related coastal waters south of Mobile River mile 0.0.
• Effective October 1, 2024.
• Provisions are supplemental and do not repeal other laws not in direct conflict.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation & Natural Resources; Environmental Protection; Government Administration