Bill to restore customary use on Walton County beaches awaits House approval
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A bill that would restore customary use on Walton County beaches passed the Florida Senate last week.
Sen. Jay Trumbull's bill would repeal a 2018 law that took away the public's right to walk, recreate, or enjoy most Walton County beaches.
The rules committee amended the bill before sending it to the full Senate.
The amendment appears to be designed to make it easier for the state to carry out beach restoration projects. It helps establish an erosion control line along the shore.
Some of the bill's supporters voiced concerns about the language of the last-minute addition.
'The first step that's necessary is getting the Florida government out of the business of dictating who has beach access and who doesn't. To that end, I was more interested in just the automatic repeal of the old language for 2018. To me, if there's another step that's warranted, you know, I'd rather do this in step-by-step fashion. Apparently, your legislators, who are hard at work, felt the need to add additional language to add some more safeguards. So, it remains to be seen the effect that language. However, anything that moves the ball forward, anything whose intent is to preserve the rights of all Floridians to access their beaches, would be greatly welcomed,' customary use advocate and former state representative Dr. Joel Rudman said.
The full House has to pass the bill before it goes to the governor for approval.
If the House passes the original bill, there would have to be a conference committee to resolve the differences.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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