The bill, S.B. No. 795, proposes the establishment of the Gulf Coast Protection Account, which will be managed by the General Land Office. This dedicated account will be funded through gifts, donations, grants, and legislative appropriations. The funds in this account are specifically earmarked for expenditures that fulfill nonfederal sponsor obligations under agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, comply with local cooperation agreements, and support projects aimed at protecting the Gulf Coast region. The bill emphasizes that the use of these funds serves a public purpose and mandates that expenditures from the account be subject to audit by the state auditor.

The new section added to the Natural Resources Code outlines the specific uses of the Gulf Coast Protection Account, including projects that are necessary for the protection of the Gulf Coast or that are designated as Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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