House Rejects Special Session for Coastal Management Program

So far, there’s been no deal on a one-year extension of the Coastal Zone Management program. State House Majority Leader Allen Austerman says polling over the weekend did not yield enough support to accept the Senate’s offer.

The House is apparently holding out for a longer extension.  Until last Friday, the Senate was refusing any extension that did not open up the state Coastal Policy Council to allow more involvement by the coastal communities. It wanted the conference committee version of the bill. Then it offered the one-year extension.  That has apparently been rejected, but it may not be the end of prospects for a special session before the state loses jurisdiction over federal permitting for coastal projects.

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