A quick preview of the upcoming� 2024 Legislative Session�

…only a bit of what we know so far:

Eugene Kelly, Policy and Legislation Chair

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Florida Native Plant Society

Board of Directors Meeting

Bonita Springs, FL

January, 2023

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The mission of FNPS is to promote the preservation, conservation and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida

Governor’s Conservation, Water, and Resilience Proposed Budget

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• $100 million for Florida Forever

• $100 million for Rural and Family Lands Program

• $745 million for Everglades restoration

• $330 million for water quality ($100 million for IRL)

• $50 million for springs restoration

• $55 million to fight harmful algal blooms

• $157 million for resilience projects, planning

• Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has requested $300 million to purchase conservation easements through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
• Gov DeSantis budget proposes only $100 million.
• Last year, Legislature approved only $100 million; Gov DeSantis vetoed.
• Governor proposes to spend $100 million on Florida Forever land purchases.
• Legislature passed (2023) continuing minimum of $100 million for Florida Forever
• Estimated allocation to Land Acquisition Trust Fund for 2024 will be in excess of $1 billion (required by Amendment 1 in 2014).
• Record funding for land conservation last year (> $1 billion) restricted most of the funding to two specified project, and most of the money came from Federal Covid Relief funding.

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Land Conservation Funding

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• Protects environmentally valuable land from being lost to sprawl

• Recharges aquifers

• Holds and cleanses runoff, protecting waterways & water supply

• Absorbs carbon

• Provides recreation for residents and tourists

• Mitigates flooding risk

• Maintains land for agriculture

• Preserves wildlife habitat and biodiversity

Why Land Conservation is a Great Investment

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Would entitle prevailing parties in cases against the

FDEP or any WMD to recover costs and attorney fees up to $50,000

• Florida Springs Council just lost challenge of WMD permit for Nestle withdrawals for bottling water.
• Protections against frivolous suits/challenges already exist.

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Legislation passed last year (and signed by Gov) entitles prevailing party in challenges to land use amendments to recover costs and attorney fees.

SB 738/HB 789

Environmental Management

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Would require FDEP to adopt rules for mangrove replanting &restoration to address erosion.

• In Areas of Critical State Concern.
• To protect barrier islands and spoil islands.
• To support Biscayne Bay revitalization efforts.

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Would also require statewide feasibility study to estimate value of mangroves for reducing insurance premiums.

CS/SB 32

Mangrove Replanting and Restoration

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Authorizes FDEP to provide Resilient Florida Grant funds to counties to conduct saltwater intrusion vulnerability assessments.

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Also requires FDEP to update the statewide flood vulnerability and sea level rise data and make it publicly available.

SB 298

Saltwater Intrusion Vulnerability Assessments

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SB 664/HB 527

Land and Water Management

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• Requires local gov wetland buffer zones to comply with FDEP or WMD delineations
• Or local gov would have to buy buffer
• Preempts the regulation of dredge and fill activities to the state.
• Repeals Land Management Review process?
• Could this bill be a placeholder for permanent preemption of fertilizer ordinances?

Rep Maggard wants to “prevent duplicity”.

• Just before 2023 session ended, a TruGreen lobbyist asked Senate President Passidomo to add a budget amendment that preempted the authority of local govs to adopt or amend fertilizer ordinances.
• 18 counties and >100 municipalities have adopted ordinances.
• Hernando amended its ordinance just before July 1 deadline

Any questions?