Opinion No.

Honorable Lloyd Criss Chairman Labor Employment Relations Committee House of Representatives Austin, Texas 78769

Re: Ownership of an artificially restored beach, and related questions (RQ-1767)

Dear Representative Criss:

You ask about the ownership of beach property that has been "artificially restored":

After beach property has been reclaimed and restored, does it belong to the owner prior to its submersal, or does it remain the property of the State?

Except where valid grants have been made, the State of Texas has title to all submerged lands of all bays, inlets, and other waters along the Gulf…