National Audubon Society

Florida Legislative Session and Policy Update

IN THIS ISSUE: The Florida House and Senate finally came together this week to pass a $115 billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Last week, Audubon Florida met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. to advocate for Everglades restoration. And if you haven't already, lend your voice to Florida Forever and Ocklawaha River Restoration — both opportunities are still open.

Florida Legislature Finally Passes State Budget

The House and Senate passed the budget for the coming fiscal year on Monday night, over a month later than originally anticipated. The $115.1 billion spending plan is smaller than the current year's $117.4 billion budget primarily due to more than $1.2 billion in tax cuts and an expected drop in federal funding. Scroll down for additional highlights.

Strong Everglades Funding

Early house proposals for Everglades restoration were woefully inadequate, but in the end, the 2025 budget numbers for Everglades restoration reflect a strong and continued commitment to safeguarding this iconic Florida ecosystem. The budget included $550 million allocated for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects alone and robust funding for complementary efforts like the Northern Everglades.

Note: For the first time, CERP projects were funded individually, unlike the lump sum of previous budgets.

Alarming Inconsistency in Funding for Land Conservation, Parks, and Preserves

We are grateful to see an extraordinary investment of $250 million allocated for agricultural easements through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. However, other cornerstone conservation programs received little to no support. Florida Forever was funded at just $18 million, and both the Florida Communities Trust and Florida Recreation Development Program received no funding at all. These cuts undermine the state's broader vision for land conservation and public access, which are essential to Florida’s environment and quality of life.

Wastewater Grant Program Funding Redirected to Discretionary Member Projects

The Water Quality Improvement Grant Program received no funding, despite its critical role in addressing nutrient pollution through competitively selected, science-based projects. Instead, the bulk of water funding was distributed via the Wastewater Grant Program** for discretionary member projects, eliminating the state's ability to prioritize investments based on environmental need and measurable outcomes.

Funding for Watershed Restoration Projects Around the State

We are glad to see dedicated funding continue for the restoration of key waterbodies and estuaries across Florida. The budget includes specific investments in the long-term health of the Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, and the Caloosahatchee Estuary. It also includes $20 million to for the Department of Agriculture's regional water projects, and an exciting $6.5 million to finally begin the restoration of the Ocklawaha River (read more below)!

Above image - Swallow-tailed Kite. Photo: Ethan Lane/Audubon Photography Awards

New Law Includes Habitat-Saving Language for Road Projects

SB 462 by Sen. DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) requires that habitat-saving design be evaluated in future road project studies. This is a major bill, setting future policy for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

An Audubon-inspired provision will require road project studies to consider elevating limited access highways over existing travel lanes. This engineering design method, if implemented, would provide an option to allow increased traffic capacity from happening at the expense of important bird and wildlife habitat. The new requirement in law won’t always guarantee this type of construction, but it will require this design to be considered each time a limited access highway is being planned. The new language in statute reads:

“Project concept studies and project development and environment studies for capacity improvement projects on limited access facilities must include the evaluation of alternatives that provide transportation capacity using elevated roadway above existing lanes.”

Flood Disclosures Bill Now Law

We are encouraged to see that the Governor signed the SB 948, Flood Disclosures, bill into law. This important measure ensures renters are informed about flood risks before signing a lease, promoting transparency and safety. It’s a meaningful step toward more resilient and informed communities across the state.

Everglades Team Flies into Washington, DC

Everglades Policy Director Kelly Cox and Senior Director of Policy Beth Alvi joined partners and National Audubon Society staff in Washington, DC last week for an Everglades fly-in. They talked restoration, conservation, and funding with elected officials, staff, and agency heads.

Audubon met with the offices of Vern Buchanan, Gus Bilirakis, Kathy Castor, Brian Mast, Greg Steube, Daniel Webster, Susie Lee, Michael Cloud, and Carlos Gimenez, including two new Congressional members, past Florida CFO and now Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Congressman Fine. Our team also had the opportunity to meet Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Florida is fortunate to have a congressional delegation that is united in its support for Everglades restoration, and advocates for the resources needed to make this vision a reality!

The team meets with Rep. Gus Bilirakis' staff (R-FL-12).

Speak Up! Elected Officials Have to Know What You Think to Represent You

Legislators Failed to Deliver Funding for New Parks and Preserves

In budget negotiations, both chambers agreed on a paltry $3 million for Florida Forever funding in the main budget, and the Senate provided $15 million in its discretionary water project money, for a total of $18 million for land buying in FY25-26.

While both chambers agreed to fund the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program with $250 million, this important program buys the development rights off farms—the properties stay in agricultural production and have no public recreational use, but will also never succumb to sprawl.

Appropriators definitely have a difficult job and they have to make choices. But that’s exactly the point—despite overwhelming support from their constituents, they chose not to fund this wildly popular program at the level that it warrants.

Please use our easy email function to share your disappointment with the legislators who represent you.

Almost There: Ocklawaha Restoration Funding Needs Help to Survive Veto

In the heyday of Florida ditching and draining, advocates for “progress” advanced an outrageous proposal: To dredge a shortcut shipping route across the Florida Peninsula, dubbed the “Cross Florida Barge Canal.” For decades, the project advanced in fits and starts, with consistent, dogged opposition from conservationists like Florida Audubon board member Marjorie Harris Carr, finally convincing then-President Nixon to put an end to this harmful project for good.

Nevertheless, the scars of this abandoned project remain on the North Florida landscape—and none more impactful and expensive than the Ocklawaha River’s Kirkpatrick Dam.

This year, we’re excited to share that decades of advocacy succeeded in the appropriation of $6.25 million to initiate Ocklawaha River restoration. But advocates for the status quo are calling for the Governor to use his line item veto to prevent this important progress.

Breaching the Kirkpatrick Dam would be an enormous benefit to the Ocklawaha, Silver, and St. Johns rivers, and the ecology and economies they support.

Please send a message to Governor DeSantis, voicing your support for Ocklawaha River restoration, and urging him to preserve the funding budgeted to begin Ocklawaha River Restoration.

Tufted Titmouse. Photo: Judy Lyle/GBBC

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(305) 371-6399 | www.audubon.org/florida

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