The bill proposes a restructuring of the state's approach to coastal resource management 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." The bill includes numerous insertions and deletions to reflect this shift, such as replacing the term "council" with "department" and "CRMC" with "department of coastal resources" throughout the text. The bill also transfers the authority for dredging in tidal waters to the Department of Coastal Resources, which will be responsible for coordinating state interests, formulating state policy on dredging, and developing a comprehensive plan for dredge material management.

The bill eliminates the previous provisions for council appointments, terms of service, and the establishment of a coastal resources committee. Instead, it establishes the Department of Coastal Resources within the executive branch, headed by a director appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The director assumes all duties previously held by the council, and any past rulings, decisions, or orders made by the council are subject to existing rights of appeal. The bill also creates a community advisory committee for the department and allows the director to establish other advisory committees as needed. Additionally, the bill outlines the department's planning and management responsibilities, including the development of comprehensive programs for dredging in tidal waters and the administration of loans and grants for carrying out its functions. References to the "council" are to be interpreted as referring to the new Department of Coastal Resources, and the bill specifies that the provisions for water quality certification and the leasing of submerged land for aquaculture remain unchanged.