Senate Bill 2381 Summary

• Establishes that the Secretary of State manages and administers Public Trust Tidelands as trustee, with authority over tidelands shown on the Final Public Trust Tidelands Maps and confirmed by boundary agreements and court orders.

• Requires gaming licensees and applicants using Public Trust Tidelands to obtain a separate lease from the Secretary of State, effective for new licenses after December 31, 2024, with 30-year terms and annual CPI-adjusted rent.

• Prohibits municipalities and counties from leasing, subleasing, renting, or providing access to Public Trust Tidelands for gaming purposes, except for gaming sites approved prior to December 31, 2024.

• Establishes minimum improvement requirements for new gaming casino projects including 500-car parking, 300-room hotel, 200-seat restaurant, 75-seat fine dining, 40,000-square-foot casino floor, and a unique amenity, effective for applicants after December 31, 2024.

• Clarifies that gaming floor proximity to mean high-water line must be measured with gaming licensee's exclusive property control extending from the gaming floor to the mean high-water line, with rights-of-way and easements not interrupting property contiguity.