Becker & Poliakoff

Becker Helps Navigate Critical Bills that Empower Local Communities to Combat Rising Sea Level

Becker Helps Navigate Critical Bills that Empower Local Communities to Combat Rising Sea Level

West Palm Beach beach coastline aerial.Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, helped secure the passage of legislation that will provide more than $100 million every year to help communities combat the effects of rising sea levels across Florida.

Action items included in the bills are:

  • creating a Resilient Florida Grant Program in the Department of Environmental Protection to aid local communities;
  • directing the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a statewide flood risk assessment;
  • requiring a three-year statewide flooding and sea-level rise resilience plan;
  • encouraging the formation of regional resilience coalitions; and
  • establishing the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation within the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science.

Becker’s shareholder and former senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, who participated in Governor DeSantis’s press conference in signing the legislation, stated, “The Becker team worked tirelessly on behalf of our city and county clients to move this legislation through. We stand ready to help communities navigate the new process and become eligible for funds under this legislation, as protecting the coastal communities from the increasing risks of flooding and storms is of the upmost importance.”

Government Law and Lobbying – at the local and state level in Florida and the federal level in Washington, D.C. – has been a core practice for Becker since its founding in 1973. The team of lawyers and lobbyists includes several who have served in high-level government positions and distinguished themselves in the political and legislative arenas and in state, local and federal government. This first-hand working knowledge of government, at every level, provides clients with valuable insights, unparalleled access and a deep understanding of the legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes to help navigate the maze of government.

To learn more about Becker’s Government Law & Lobbying Practice, please click here.