The beaches already were privately owned to the mean high tide line (which is a survey mark and has little to do with the actual high tide line which varies). However, when this private property had been used by the public for many years there was a presumption of "customary use" and the owner could not take away access or use unless he/she could prove that the public had not used it. The key point is that the burden of proof lay with the property owner to prove that it had not been used by the public. Now, with this new legislation, that burden of proof will be on the municipalities and/or citizens who will have to prove that it has been used and also will have to bear the cost of the litigation. This is just one of many issues in which the FL legislature has, for the past 15 years or so, taken the rights of citizens and municipalities away and given them to their contributors. (Look up "attacks on Home Rule".) It is why you should be paying attention when you vote and truly understanding where the candidates stand [not just putting your X next to the (R)]. Any more on this probably belongs in NSR.

Surfrider has an Info thread

This provides a great write up and explanation of the bill. I actually read the bill and it's a bunch of "legal-ese" with the beach access provisions hidden away at the end of the bill. I for one was caught off guard by the bill and didn't find out about it until it passed. It sucks to see the public beaches slowly being carved up and handed out to wealthy property owner's and special interests, basically unnoticed.