# 118-s-50: Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024

118-s-50, Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024, is a 118th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (R-FL); status became_law (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-50
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 118-s-50
- Congress: 118
- Title: Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2023-01-24
- Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Environmental Protection
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Designates Pensacola Bay and Perdido Bay in Florida as estuaries of national significance** and brings them into the National Estuary Program while placing short-term limits on EPA implementation funding. - Families and coastal communities: Local residents and conservation groups become eligible for national estuary planning, technical support, and grants under Section 320, but EPA may not use National Estuary Program funds for implementation in FY2024 and FY2025 is limited by a funding test. - State and local governments and partners: Florida and local governments can take part in management conferences and develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for these bays under the program, subject to the Act’s funding restrictions. - EPA and the National Estuary Program: The law amends the Section 320 list to include Pensacola and Perdido Bays, making them eligible for NEP processes, while conditioning actual grant or plan implementation on appropriations levels. *Temporarily restricts EPA use of National Estuary Program appropriations for Pensacola and Perdido Bays in FY2024 and ties FY2025 implementation funding to at least a $850,000 increase in program appropriations over FY2023.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2023-01-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Pensacola bays gain national estuary status, funding limited: mixed, low. The law names Pensacola and Perdido Bays in Florida as estuaries of national significance. They are now eligible for National Estuary Program planning, management meetings, and grants. For fiscal year 2024, EPA cannot use program funds for this new designation. For fiscal year 2025, EPA can use fun…

## Related bills

- 118-s-141: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
- 118-s-133: NAPA Reauthorization Act
- 118-s-112: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes.
- 118-s-3998: Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024
- 118-s-91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 118-sres-925: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.

## Sources
- [118-s-50 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/50)

## Related
- [118-s-141: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvemen…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-141)
- [118-s-133: NAPA Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-133)
- [118-s-112: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for childr…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-112)
- [118-s-3998: Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-3998)
- [118-s-91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-91)
- [118-sres-925: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Sena…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-sres-925)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-50 (as of 2026-01-05).