SB 10 HB 761
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Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Funding Read MoreSB 10 Bradley / HB 761 Burgess – Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Funding SB 10 was significantly amended as it moved through the process. SB 10 now calls for using existing state-owned lands, along with the possibility of adding additional lands in the future, to create a reservoir capable of holding a minimum of 240,000 acre-feet of water. It authorizes up to $800million in Florida Forever bonds for the reservoir and allocates an additional $64 million annually for the EAA Reservoir project from Amendment 1. The amendment resolves some of the most significant issues with the previous versions of Senate Bill 10. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (Passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources(Passed); Appropriations (Passed) House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Appropriations Committee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
HB 753 Stone SB 1018 Grimsley
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Public Notification of Pollution Releases Read MoreSB 532 Galvano / HB 1065 Peters — Public Notification of Pollution Releases Requires the owner or operator of an installation at which a reportable pollution release occurs to report the release to the State Watch Office within in the Division of Emergency Management. Subsequently, requires the Department of Environmental Protection to publish the notification on a public website. Removes language in previous bill versions which fined an owner or operator for failing to comply with the law.. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources (passed); Appropriations (passed) House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
SB 90 Brandes
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Implements Amendment 4 (Solar Energy) Read MoreSB 90 Brandes/HB 1351 — Implements Amendment 4 (Solar Energy) Exempts 80% of the value of solar and renewable energy devices from property taxes on real and tangible personal property. Also has numerous provisions requiring disclosures to be included in agreements governing the sale or lease of distributed energy generation systems Senate Referrals: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities (Passed); Community Affairs (Passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax (Passed); Appropriations House Referrals: Energy and Utilities Subcommittee (Passed); Ways and Means Committee(passed); Commerce Committee Hide |
HB 847 Payne SB 234
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St. Johns River Restoration Funding Read MoreSB 234 Bradley / HB 847 Payne — St. Johns River Restoration Funding Requires an annual allocation of $20 million from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to the St. Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to the restoration and enhancement of the St. Johns River and its tributaries or the Keystone Heights Lake Region. Funds could be used for land management, land acquisition, increasing recreational opportunities, and improving public access. SB 234 unanimously passed the Senate on 4/13/17. Its House companion has yet to be heard in committee. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (Passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources (Passed); Appropriations (Passed) House Referrals: Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Appropriations Committee Hide |
SB 874 HB 551
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Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee Septic Tank Remediation Funding Read MoreSB 874 Young / HB 551 Stone — Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee Septic Tank Remediation Funding Requires an annual appropriation of $20 million from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to fund septic system upgrades or connection to central sewer when DEP finds that septic systems are contributing excess nutrient pollution to the Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. The funds would also be used for muck dredging and storm-water improvements in the northern Indian River Lagoon. The bill requires the adoption of septic tank remediation plans for these areas. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
HB 629 Payne SB 678 Montford
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Financial Assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure Read MoreSB 678 Montford / HB 629 Payne — Financial Assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure Eases process for local governments to finance septic to sewer conversions by allowing them to receive payments from the State for invoices, rather than paying the invoices themselves and then waiting for reimbursement from the State. 1000 Friends supports SB 678/HB629. Senate Referrals: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities (passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources (passed); Appropriations House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee (passed); Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
SB 442 HB 551
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Advanced Well Stimulation (Fracking) Ban Read MoreSB 442 Young / HB 551 Miller — Advanced Well Stimulation (Fracking) Ban This bill would ban “advanced well stimulation” techniques, including “fracking,” in Florida. It makes it clear that a permit for drilling or operating a well doesn’t authorize the performance of “advanced well stimulation treatments.” 1000 Friends supports SB 442/HB551. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
HB 93 Richardson SB 162 Rodriguez
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Disposable Plastic Bags Read MoreSB 162 Rodriguez / HB 93 Richardson — “Disposable Plastic Bags Ban in Coastal Communities” Allows coastal communities with a population of fewer than 100,000 to implement pilot programs testing regulations or bans of disposable plastic bags. The pilot programs would take effect on or after January 1, 2018 and would end on or before June 30, 2020. The pilot regulations or bans cannot include new taxes or fees on the use or distribution of disposable plastic bags. Municipalities that implement such pilot programs would collect data on the impact of their regulations or ban and submit a report by April 1, 2020 with this information to the governing board of their municipality at a public hearing. They would also provide a copy of this report to the Department of Environmental Protection. 1000 Friends supports SB 162/HB 93. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (passed); Community Affairs; Commerce and Tourism; Rules House Referrals: Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee; Careers and Competition Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
HB 1033 Altman SB 982 Mayfield
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Land Acquisition Trust Fund Allocation for the Indian River Lagoon System Read MoreSB 982 Mayfield / HB 1033 Altman — “Land Acquisition Trust Fund Allocation for the Indian River Lagoon System” Amends the Land Acquisition Trust fund statute to appropriate $30 million annually for projects dedicated to the restoration of the Indian River Lagoon system. From these funds, $15 million would be distributed to the St. Johns River Water Management District and $15 million would be distributed to the South Florida Water Management District. The funds could be used for land acquisition, land management, increasing recreational opportunities, and improving public access. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations House Referrals: Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee; Appropriations Committee Hide |
SB 1700 Farmer
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Water Management Read MoreSB 1700 Farmer — Water Management After the passage of Senate Bill 552, industry-backed water legislation, by the Florida Legislature in 2016 many legislators acknowledged shortcomings with the bill raised by water advocates and environmental groups. Senate Bill 1700 by Senator Gary Farmer improves upon the 2016 legislation with commonsense provisions to protect Florida’s waters, including precious Outstanding Florida Springs, and ensure that our tax dollars are being used efficiently and effectively in a manner which provides maximum benefit for Florida’s people and environment. Click here for more information. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation; Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Hide |
SB 198
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Environmental Regulation Commission Read MoreSB 198 Stewart / HB 861 Willhite – Environmental Regulation Commission Requires the Governor to fill vacancies to the ERC within 90 days; requires a supermajority to approve standards relating to air and water pollution. Passed the Senate unanimously. Has not been taken up by House. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (Passed); Ethics and Elections (Passed); Rules House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee (Passed); Oversight, Transparency and Administration Subcommittee; Government Accountability Committee Hide |
SB 1590 Latvala HB 1213 Peters
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Coastal Management Read MoreSB 1590 Latvala / HB 1213 Peters – Coastal Management Amends the Land Acquisition Trust fund statute to appropriate the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million annually for projects that preserve and repair the state’s beaches. Additionally, it requires DEP to include a strategic beach management plan, a critically eroded beaches report, and a statewide long-range budget plan in their comprehensive long-term management plan. The House companion legislation, HB 1213, does not include the guaranteed funding. Passed the Senate unanimously. Has not been taken up by House. Senate Referrals: Environmental Preservation and Conservation (Passed); Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources (Passed); Appropriations House Referrals: Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee (Passed); Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Passed); Government Accountability Committee Hide |