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Current Legislation of Interest
To view text and Status, click on the bill number.
SUPPORT SB 1538/HB 423(Stewart/Cross): Implementation of the Recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force
Requiring owners of certain onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to have the systems periodically inspected, beginning on a specified date; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to administer the inspection program; requiring new or revised basin management action plans to include a list that identifies and prioritizes certain spatially focused projects, etc.
Committee Contacts:
Senate: Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Fiscal Policy
House: Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee; Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee
Infrastructure Strategies Committee
SUPPORT SB 1632/HB 1379 (Brodeur, Steel): Environmental Protection: Prohibits new On-Site Septic systems in IRL watershed.
Revising the required components of a local government comprehensive plan capital improvements element and general sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage, potable water, and natural groundwater aquifer recharge element; revising the real property purchase agreements that must be submitted to and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund; providing the components of the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program; prohibiting new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems within basin management action plans in effect for Outstanding Florida Springs under certain circumstances, etc.
Committee Contacts:
- Senate: Environment and Natural Resources, Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, Fiscal Policy
- House: Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee
Infrastructure Strategies Committee; Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee
SUPPORT HB 1425 (Cross) Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Inspections
Requires owners of certain onsite sewage treatment & disposal systems to have periodic inspections & pay specified costs; directs DEP to administer inspection program; provides for implementation schedule, qualified contractors, exemptions, assessment & inspection procedures, fees, notices, disciplinary actions, & penalties; prohibits partial inspection & omission of inspection portions.
Committee Contacts:
- Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee
- Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee
- Infrastructure Strategies Committee
SUPPORT SB 172/HB 177 (Berman/Gossett-Seidman): Safe Waterways Act to Protect swimmers from polluted waters.
SB 172 (Berman) and HB 177 (Gossett-Seidman) would require the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt and enforce rules to protect the health and safety of people swimming in public waters. The bills would require owners of public bathing places to notify the local county health department within 24-hours after a water quality test result fails to meet health standards, and close the bathing place if the DOH determines closure necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The bills also requires DOH to create and display health advisory signage for public bathing places to notify the public against swimming in waters contaminated with fecal bacteria. The DOH would establish a public statewide interagency database to report fecal indicator bacteria data for public bathing places.
Committee Contacts:
- Senate: Health Policy, Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Fiscal Policy
- House: Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee, Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, Health & Human Services Committee
SUPPORT SB 880/HB 1405 (Brodeur): Biosolids: Restricts Spreading biosolids within IRL subwatershed.
SB 880 would expand the FDEP’s wastewater grant program to include grant projects for the conversion of wastewater residuals to Class A and AA biosolids, subject to annual legislative appropriation. The bill would also limit the land application of Class B biosolids within the subwatershed of nutrient impaired waterbodies unless the applicant can demonstrate the land application will not add to the overall nutrient loading.
SUPPORT SB 1686/HB 1489 (Wright/Altman): Brevard Barrier Island Area Protection Act Would: Protect the Brevard South Shore barrier island.
Designate the Brevard Barrier Island Area as an area of critical state concern; providing guiding principles for development within the area including:
- Recognition of the special environmental qualities including Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge.
- Prioritization of environmental quality and extensive limitation of any environmental impacts from development.
Get more information at Barrier Island Preservation and Protection Association
Committee Contacts:
- Senate: Environment and Natural Resources, Community Affairs, Rules
- House: Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee, Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, Infrastructure Strategies Committee
OPPOSE SB 1240/HB 1197 (Burgess): Land and Water Management
Prohibits counties & municipalities from adopting laws, regulations, rules, or policies relating to water quality or quantity, pollution control, discharge prevention or removal, or wetlands & preempts such regulation to the state; requires DEP to notify CFO of certain violations; requires CFO to withhold certain funds; repeals provisions relating to land management review teams.
Committee Contacts:
OPPOSE HB 359/SB 540: Local Government Comprehensive Plans filed by Rep. Wyman Duggan, a Republican from Jacksonville, stipulates that anyone who loses a legal challenge to a comprehensive plan or amendment is liable to pay the winner’s attorney fees and costs. This would seriously chill action by citizens who object to new developments from raising the issue.
Committee Contacts:
- Senate: Community Affairs, Judiciary, Rules
- House: State Affairs Committee
Oppose SB 1604/HB 439 Land Use and Development Regulations: Would make local comprehensive plans more difficult to adopt.
Revises effect of special magistrate's recommendation; revises local governmental entity notification requirements; revises types of data that comprehensive plans & plan amendments must be based on; requires local government to submit affidavit for specified purposes; requires that EDR be sole publisher of specified estimates; revises elements that must be included in comprehensive plan; revises frequency at which local government must evaluate its comprehensive plan; prohibits local government from adopting plan amendments when it fails to meet certain requirements; revises exceptions to applicability of land development regulations relating to single-family or two-family dwelling building design elements; requires AG to audit county transportation trust fund.
Committee Contacts:
- Senate: Community Affairs, Judiciary, Rules
- House: Commerce Committee, State Affairs Committee
Find your representatives at: legislative contacts.
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