Ron DeSantis has been fighting for Florida families since day one.
The Governor knows what matters most to hardworking Floridians.
And Ron DeSantis just delivered one victory that left Florida families cheering.
DeSantis strikes down Rick Scott’s disastrous beach law
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1622 on Tuesday morning in Santa Rosa Beach, delivering a massive win for Florida families who’ve been locked out of their own state’s beautiful coastline.
The legislation repeals a terrible 2018 law signed by former Governor Rick Scott that severely restricted public access to Florida beaches.
Scott’s law prohibited local governments from affirming the public’s recreational use of the dry sand areas of private beaches unless they first went through a complex and costly judicial process.
"By repealing the law, we return the authority back to local communities," DeSantis announced at the signing ceremony.
The Governor explained that cities and counties can now pass beach access rules without jumping through legal hoops for every single piece of property.
The 2018 law was heavily pushed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who owned beachfront property in Walton County at the time and lobbied the Florida Legislature to restrict public beach access.
Huckabee sold his Blue Mountain Beach home in 2021, but the damage was already done to Florida families.
State Senator Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who sponsored the repeal, explained how Scott’s law devastated local communities.
"Overnight, people who had walked the same stretch of dry beach for generations were being told that they were trespassing," Trumbull explained. The Senator added that families just wanted to continue traditions like walking the beach and building sandcastles.
Florida beaches drive the economy
DeSantis understands that Florida’s beaches aren’t just beautiful — they’re essential to the state’s economic success.
DeSantis pointed out that Florida’s massive coastline brings in millions of visitors every year who spend billions of dollars.
The state’s beaches attract close to 19 million tourists annually, pumping more than $56 billion into Florida’s economy and supporting nearly a million jobs.
"We have the best beaches in the United States, maybe in the world," DeSantis said during the ceremony.
The Governor also announced that $60 million from the 2025-2026 state budget will be allocated to beach preservation efforts.
Representative Shane Abbott emphasized how the legislation will boost beach restoration efforts across the state.
"We ran this bill for the thousands of locals and residents here," Abbott said, noting that improved beaches benefit both tourists and Florida families.
DeSantis puts families first
The new law makes it clear that DeSantis prioritizes Florida families over wealthy out-of-state interests who tried to privatize the state’s natural treasures.
Environmental officials praised the streamlined approach to beach management.
"The bill clarifies how local governments can set beach use rules without unnecessary red tape," said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert.
The House unanimously supported the legislation, while it faced opposition in the Senate from two former Senate Presidents, Don Gaetz and Kathleen Passidomo, who had supported Scott’s original restriction.
Florida families who have enjoyed the state’s beaches for generations can now return to walking, fishing, and playing on the sand without fear of being arrested for trespassing.
State leaders at the signing ceremony emphasized the human impact: "This bill is about much more than policy; it’s about families. It’s about tradition, and it’s about restoring something that never should have been taken away in the first place."
The legislation takes effect July 1, giving Florida families back their rightful access to the state’s world-class beaches.
DeSantis continues to prove that when you put Florida families first, everyone wins.
