The State Park Preservation Act is designed to improve the management and conservation of state lands, particularly public parks and recreational areas. It mandates public hearings for all updated conservation and nonconservation land management plans, ensuring community involvement. The Division of State Lands must provide electronic copies of land management plans for larger parcels and those in state parks at least 30 days before these hearings. The bill also sets forth specific management requirements for parks, including prohibitions on certain uses and construction activities, and emphasizes the importance of advisory group input in developing management plans.
Additionally, the bill revises the responsibilities of the Division of Recreation and Parks to focus on conservation-based public outdoor recreational uses. It introduces new requirements for land management plans, such as detailed land descriptions, measurable objectives, and budget summaries. The bill allows the division to grant privileges and permits for visitor accommodations without competitive bidding, while ensuring public access to natural curiosities. It also prohibits new concession agreements in state parks with limited beach access if similar concessions exist nearby. Provisions for camping cabins in state parks are included, along with requirements for individual management plans and reporting on maintenance backlogs and budget allocations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: S 80 Filed: 253.034, 258.004, 259.032