Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 710 amends the Natural Resources Code relating to the shared cost of a coastal erosion project required under an agreement between the commissioner of the General Land Office (GLO) and a qualified project partner. The bill requires the qualified project partner to pay at least 25 percent of the cost of a beach nourishment project and at least 40 percent of the cost of any other coastal erosion response study or project, including a marsh restoration or shoreline protection project. Previous law set the qualified project partner's portion at not less than 15 percent for all coastal erosion projects. The bill also authorizes the commissioner each biennium to undertake one large-scale beach nourishment project without requiring a qualified project partner to pay a portion of the cost if the cost does not exceed one-third of the total amount appropriated to the GLO for coastal erosion planning and response.