National Audubon Society

Florida Legislative Session and Policy Update

This week’s policy highlights:

- The Audubon Florida team participated in Everglades Action Day at the Capitol.

- Stronger park protections are underway.

- A bill addressing several issues, including worker housing, agricultural best management practices, and the prohibition of fluoride addition to water supplies by local governments, has been amended.

- Development Permits and Orders, SB 1080, and HB 579, passed the second of their three committees.

- Water Management Districts bill was read on the Senate floor.

- Mitigation bill would weaken mitigation for wetlands lost to development and exacerbate flooding.

- Budget proposals moved forward this week as the House and Senate held floor sessions and passed their proposed budgets for FY 2025-26.

A group of people standing on the steps in front of a large white building with columns.

Audubon at the State Capitol for Everglades Action Day

Tuesday, April 8 was Everglades Action Day at Florida’s State Capitol. Audubon Florida staff, including Senior Director of Policy Beth Alvi, Policy Associate Caitlin Newcamp, and Executive Director Julie Wraithmell, students from the Conservation Leadership Initiative, members of chapters in and near the Everglades, and other partners gathered in Tallahassee to meet with elected officials and appeal for Everglades restoration and conservation.

The Audubon Florida team at the Capitol. Photo: Erika Zambello/Audubon Florida

Updated: Stronger Protections for Florida’s State Parks Advance

On Monday, the House State Affairs Committee (Chair, Rep. Robinson, R-Bradenton) voted favorably on the amended version of HB 209, State Land Management, by Rep. John Snyder (R-Stuart). The latest amendment, adopted during the hearing, adds meaningful new protections that make the bill even stronger than previous versions. It reinforces the goal that development at our state parks cannot occur at the expense of resource protection and ensures the public has a greater voice in how these special places are managed.

The amended HB 209 now mirrors most of the key provisions in SB 80, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart), while also adding important protections—such as stronger standards for siting new cabin facilities within parks. This important effort reflects a strong legislative commitment to preserving the natural character of Florida’s state parks and ensuring they remain places for public enjoyment and environmental stewardship. HB 209 is now ready for consideration by the full House, placed on the Special Order Calendar for April 16, 2025.

Heads Up: SB 80 is on the agenda of the Senate Appropriations Committee of Agriculture, Environment and General Government on April 15, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.

We’ll continue tracking its progress and will keep you informed as the legislation advances.

Above: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Bill Amended by the Fiscal Policy Committee

SB 700 (Sen. Truenow, R- Tavares) is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) bill that addresses several issues, including worker housing, agricultural best management practices, and the prohibition of fluoride addition to water supplies by local governments. The bill also creates 366.20, F.S., that would mandate the first right of refusal by FDACS for the sale of lands acquired by an electric utility that were classified as agricultural lands at any time in the five years preceding the acquisition by the electric utility.

The bill was amended this week in the Fiscal Policy Committee (Chair, Sen. Gruters, R-Sarasota) to provide a structure for the provision allowing for the purchase of land from the utility by FDACS. The bill outlines a process that creates a window beginning six months before the legislative session and ending after the legislative session, where if FDACS exercised its right to have first refusal, the agency would present a list of such proposals to the legislature for funding to purchase those pieces of utility land.

If FDACS declined to make these purchases, the electric utility would be released from the requirements of this section. Audubon is concerned that such purchases being made by the state have no requirement for oversight by Cabinet or ARC.

Above: Brown Pelican. Photo: Peter Osmon

A warbler with black mask and yellow chin in a bush

Development Permits and Orders Bill Could Become the Vehicle for Harmful “Agricultural Enclave” Provision

Development Permits and Orders, SB 1080 by Sen. McClain (R- Ocala) and HB 579 by Rep. Overdorf, (R- Stuart)) addresses local government land regulation, specifically focusing on development permits and orders. The bill amends regulations concerning local government land in terms of development permits and orders, shortening process timelines and defining liabilities and responsibilities. Both bills passed the second of their three committees last week. Audubon is closely monitoring this bill as it could become the vehicle for the harmful “agricultural enclave” provision from SB 1118 by Sen. McClain; HB 1209 by Rep. Steele (R- Jacksonville) could destroy rural area protections, such as Marion County’s Farmland Preservation Area and Seminole County’s charter protections for its eastern rural lands. Read more about SB 1118 here.

Above: Common Yellowthroat. Photo: John Serrao

A brown wading bird consuming a snail in a wetland

Water Management District Bill Amends Laws Concerning Funding, Budgeting, Business Practices, and Everglades Restoration Projects

SB 7002 Water Management Districts (Sen. Brodeur, R- Sanford) was read on the Senate floor this week. The bill amends laws concerning water management district funding, budgeting, and business practices, as well as Everglades restoration projects more generally. The bill also includes direct appropriations for Everglades restoration projects.

The bill, a priority of the Senate President, was filed to increase transparency about the districts’ funding and projects. We reported on it here. The bill was amended to prohibit the Legislative Budget Commission from rejecting projects (on the list for their approval) funded by an increase in millage rates that was approved by a local referendum. The bill also removed the duplicative Everglades restoration project appropriations included in the bill since these projects and their funding amounts were now included in the Senate’s General Appropriations Act for FY 2025-26.

Above: Limpkin. Photo: Manny Martinez

Mitigation Bill Would Weaken Mitigation and Exacerbate Flooding

SB 492 Mitigation (Sen. McClain, R-Ocala) took another step forward this week. The bill was amended to conform with the House companion, HB 1175 (Rep. Duggan, R- Jacksonville). Audubon Florida has been calling attention to this harmful bill that will weaken mitigation for wetlands lost to development and will exacerbate flooding in densely populated urban areas. HB 1175 has passed all its committees and is referred to the House floor. SB 492 has one more committee stop remaining. Audubon policy staff will continue to work to improve this bill.

Above: Snowy Egret. Photo: Arnie Collens

A small black-and-white bird with a yellow head perched on a branch

Proposed Budgets Passed on House and Senate Floors

Budget proposals moved forward this week as the House and Senate held floor sessions and passed their proposed budgets for FY 2025-26. This puts them in the proper position to begin the budget conference. The two chambers will first need to reach an agreement on allocations per budget area, currently, the chambers are nearly $4.4 billion apart. Read more details on the budget for the environment here.

Above: Black-throated Green Warbler. Photo: Melissa James/Audubon Photography Awards

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