The bill seeks to restructure the management of coastal resources in Rhode Island by replacing the existing Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) with a new Department of Coastal Resources. This change involves renaming Chapter 46-23 of the General Laws from "Coastal Resources Management Council" to "DEPARTMENT OF COASTAL RESOURCES" and replacing references to "council" with "department" throughout the text. The bill transfers all powers and duties of the CRMC to the new department, including the authority to manage and plan for the preservation of the state's coastal resources, such as submerged lands. It also requires legislative action for approval of large-scale filling projects involving twenty-five acres or more of tidal lands and outlines the department's responsibilities, such as developing a system for leasing submerged and filled lands and imposing fees for transatlantic cables.

The bill also introduces a community advisory committee for the Department of Coastal Resources, consisting of ten members, to provide diverse and knowledgeable input on coastal law and policy. The Director of the Department of Coastal Resources, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, will have the authority to appoint members to advisory committees. The bill removes the previous structure of the CRMC, including the appointment of its members, and creates new positions such as staff attorney(s) to the director. All employees of the CRMC will be transferred to the new department with their civil service status and benefits intact. The department will also be the lead state agency for dredging activities and will develop comprehensive programs for dredging in tidal waters. The bill emphasizes the department's role in environmental management and protection of coastal resources, and it includes insertions and deletions to reflect the updated terminology and responsibilities.