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Audubon Florida
Florida Legislative Session and Policy Update
The 2025 Florida Legislative Session officially kicked off on March 4. This week we also followed committee meetings to watch critical bills that would affect landscapes and quality of life in Florida.

Highlights this week:

- Updates to a bill impacting water management districts throughout the Sunshine State—this remains a priority for Audubon policy staff.

- The state park protection bill continues to move forward.

- Additional funding could help Florida panthers.

- Bill to improve resiliency discussed in committee.

- More than 40,000 acres protected by Governor and Florida Cabinet.

- Audubon staff fly to Washington, DC to meet with elected officials.
 
thunderstorm drops rain over an agricultural landscape
Update on Water Management District Bill
Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government bill SB 7002, Water Management Districts, makes wide-ranging changes in the state’s water management districts to improve transparency and to encourage the districts to refocus on their core mission.

The bill also creates a revolving loan program using Resilient Florida Trust Funds for the water management districts that will be administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 

Bill sponsor Sen. Brodeur said in committee that various interest groups had reached out over the last few weeks to express concerns and ask for clarification of some provisions. 

This bill will be a priority for Audubon policy staff this legislative session as we work with the bill sponsor and Senate and House staff to avoid unintended consequences and insert more clarity on some provisions.
 
Photo: Julie Wraithmell/Audubon.
A Common Gallinule standing on a reed.
Bill to Protect State Parks Moves Forward
The Natural Resources and Disasters Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Botana (R-Bonita Springs), heard several bills on Tuesday.

Highlight:

HB 209, State Land Management, sponsored by Rep. Snyder (R-Stuart),  would protect Florida’s state parks from unwise development. The bill also aims to ensure transparency and public input in the state parks management plan update procedures.

An amendment to the bill, very similar to the one that was amended to the Senate version, SB 80 (Sen. Harrell (R-Stuart)) was voted on positively by the committee. Rep. Snyder’s amendment includes additional provisions that specifically identify banned activities in the state parks.
Common Gallinule. Photo: Mick Thompson.
urban landscape at the edge of the water (Miami)
New Bill Aims to Improve Coastal Resilience
SB 50, Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resilience, sponsored by Sen. Garcia (R-Miami), requires the Florida Hub to develop guidelines and standards combining green and gray infrastructure to address sea level rise and the impact of storm surges, models the effects of green infrastructure on the state’s coastal resilience, and directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules governing nature-based methods for improving coastal resilience.

Green infrastructure provides a range of environmental, social, and economic benefits—unlike seawalls and grey infrastructure.

An amendment adopted this week appropriates $250,000 from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a feasibility study on coastal flood risk reduction.
 
City of Miami.
Florida panther walking down a road
Florida Panthers Could Benefit from New Trust Fund Provision
SB 388, Trust Funds for Wildlife Management, sponsored by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair, Sen. Anna Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral), introduces clarifying changes to a few of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Trust Funds. 

An important provision: The Florida Panther Restoration Trust Fund can now be used for the monitoring of feline diseases as well as the acquisition of new panther habitat. Florida panthers remain endangered and lose dozens of adults each year to vehicle strikes, development, and disease. Additional funds will give land managers and wildlife experts additional tools to protect this iconic Florida species.
Florida panther at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Photo: Sally Stein/Audubon Florida
Sandhill Crane parents walking with their chick in the grass
More than 40,000 Acres Protected
On March 5 Governor DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the purchase of land and easements totaling more than 41,000 acres, or 64 square miles. The eight separate easement and land purchase proposals constitute an area slightly larger than the City of Miami.

Included in the easement purchases are:
  • 7,548 acres of the Kenansville Ranch in Osceola County;
  • 3,722 acres of the Ryals Cattle Ranch in Charlotte County;
  • 1,728 acres of the Williams Family farm in Levy County;
  • 993 acres of the Headwaters Ranch in Lake County.
The purchases of entire properties in fee simple title include:
  • 1,541 acres of the Etoniah Cross Florida Greenway in Putnam County;
  • 1,304 acres of the LMG Enterprises property in the Big Cypress Corridor within Hendry County;*
  • 2,577 acres, Tamiami Citrus property, Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor, Collier County;*
  • 21,658 acres, Rayonier Forest Resources, near Goethe State Forest,  Waccasassa River Watershed, Levy County.
The purchase of this land and these conservation easements will prevent future urban development and protect important habitats and wildlife corridors.

*Subject to a 10 year agricultural leaseback to the Grantor, with two five year renewal options, pursuant to Section 98, Chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida.
Sandhill Cranes. Photo: Sue Dougherty/Audubon Photography Awards
a collage of three photos of people smiling at the camera
Meeting with Elected Officials in Washington, DC to Talk about Our Priorities
Northeast Florida Policy Associate Chris Farrell was in Washington, DC this week meeting with elected officials and talking flood protection, water quality, and conservation.
Audubon's Chris Farrell and Julie Hill-Gabriel with Rep. Rutherford (left) Rep. Donalds (middle) and Rep. Bean (right)
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