CS for SB 174 - Coastal Management

• Revises beach erosion funding priority criteria into four weighted tiers: Tier 1 (20%) for tourism-related return on investment and economic impact; Tier 2 (45%) for federal matching dollars, storm damage reduction, and cost-effectiveness; Tier 3 (20%) for previous state commitment and recreational benefits; and Tier 4 (15%) for project readiness and environmental habitat enhancement.

• Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt a scoring system by rule to determine annual beach project funding priorities and maintain active project lists updated quarterly on its website.

• Redefines "significant change" in project funding as a project-specific or cumulative change exceeding $500,000 or 25 percent of the project's original allocation, with specific notification requirements to the Governor and Legislature.

• Establishes that inlet management projects are separate from general beach erosion projects and revises inlet project ranking criteria to focus on sediment bypassing, erosion severity, project success, cost-effectiveness, and existing management plans.

• Requires the comprehensive long-term beach management plan to include a strategic beach management plan, critically eroded beaches report, and statewide long-range budget plan with a 3-year work plan and funding forecast submitted annually to the Legislature, with public meetings required before plan finalization.