Bill repealing 2018 customary use statute passes in House & Senate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The bill proposed by Senator Jay Trumbull regarding customary use has now passed in both the House and Senate and will head to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk.

The House of Representatives voted on SB 1622 on Tuesday, and legislators passed it with no opposition. The bill aims to repeal a 2018 statute that ruled on customary use, impacting Walton County. (RELATED: Bill repealing 2018 customary use statute to be discussed by legislature)

Currently, out of Walton County’s 26 miles of beach, about 17 miles are privately owned, leaving just 9 miles open to the public.

The bill effectively gives Walton County’s local government the ability to create its own ordinances regarding customary beach use.

Following the bill passing on Tuesday, Senator Trumbull posted on X, stating, “SB 1622 Customary Use has officially passed the House floor & is headed to the Governor! This is a major victory for protecting public beach access & defending the way of life Walton Co residents cherish. Thank you to everyone who fought alongside us — we’re almost there!”

Representative Shane Abbott also responded to the bill passing on X, stating, “Today, the Florida House passed our bill to reform Customary Use laws, expand beach access, and ensure the fair implementation of this statute. Thank you to all who helped get this effort to the finish line.”

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