The Good
On June 29, 2026, Governor DeSantis signed Florida’s $117.6 billion state finances for 2026–27. The ultimate finances is smaller than final 12 months’s, regardless of robust state income and rising prices. Legislative leaders framed the decrease spending plan as a option to hold taxes low, pay down debt, and put together for the long run.
The excellent news for conservation advocates: The finances consists of full funding—$645 million—for Everglades restoration tasks, supporting main efforts such because the EAA Reservoir, the Decrease Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Therapy Space, the Western Everglades Restoration Challenge, the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Safety Program, and the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Plan.
The Agriculture and Surroundings finances totals about $8.9 billion and consists of vital investments in clear water infrastructure, restoration work, and conservation packages throughout the state.
Some examples embody:
- Different water provide tasks to assist meet Florida’s rising water wants.
- Springs restoration and safety.
- Water high quality enhancements for Biscayne Bay, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Apalachicola area.
- Dangerous algal bloom and crimson tide analysis, administration, and mitigation.
- Ingesting water and wastewater infrastructure enhancements, together with help for small and rural communities.
- Flood resilience, sea stage rise adaptation, seashore renourishment, and coral reef restoration tasks.
Payments That Will Assist the Surroundings
Conservation Lands Invoice
Conservation Lands, HB 441 by Rep. Kendall (R-St. Johns) and its Senate companion, SB 546 by Sen. Mayfield (R-Melbourne), improve transparency when the state proposes to promote or change conservation lands. Filed in response to final 12 months’s controversial proposal to swap land on the Guana River Wildlife Administration Space, the payments require the state to present the general public not less than 30 days’ discover earlier than any deal and to submit key info on-line, together with which lands are concerned, how they’re valued, and why the transaction advantages conservation.
In easy phrases, the laws ensures that the state clearly explains and publicly discloses plans earlier than making main choices about lands that belong to the individuals of Florida, serving to forestall rushed or behind-the-scenes offers that might completely alter necessary pure areas. HB 441 was signed into legislation in April.
Biosolids Invoice
Biosolids, SB 1294/HB 1245 by Sen. Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Rep. Shoaf (R-Quincy), was vetoed by Governor DeSantis. This was a really needed invoice that will have up to date Florida’s guidelines for the usage of Class AA biosolids—handled sewage sludge that’s typically used as fertilizer on farmland.
Class AA biosolids are a rising downside in Florida. As Class B biosolids utility is phased out, the state is creating a brand new downside by permitting Class AA biosolids, which might carry lots of the identical nutrient considerations as Class B, to be utilized with little regulatory management.
The invoice would have required biosolids to be utilized solely at agronomic charges, that means solely in quantities crops can truly use. It additionally would have prohibited over-application, required operators of bulk biosolids utility websites to maintain data for 5 years on the sort, quantity, and timing of biosolids utilized, and directed the Florida Division of Environmental Safety to develop new guidelines for the distribution and advertising and marketing of those supplies.
By vetoing this invoice, the Governor rejected a sensible and wanted step towards stronger oversight. This was a short-sighted determination that leaves Florida’s water sources and close by communities weak to continued nutrient air pollution from land-applied biosolids.
Coastal Resilience Invoice Signed by Governor
Coastal Resilience, SB 302 by Sen. Garcia (R-Miami) and HB 1035 by Rep. Mooney (R-Key Largo), strengthens protections for Florida’s aquatic preserves whereas permitting restricted restoration work to enhance coastal resilience. It restricts dredging and filling in delicate waters, expands the usage of nature-based shoreline tasks like dwelling shorelines, and directs the Florida Division of Environmental Safety to create statewide guidelines for nature-based coastal resilience tasks by 2027.
An modification by Sen. Boyd (R-Bradenton) provides particular safety for the Terra Ceia Aquatic Protect in Tampa Bay, prohibiting dredging or filling there until it’s needed for a public objective or water high quality enchancment. The invoice additionally permits restricted dredging within the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Protect when it’s wanted to revive pure methods and strengthen coastal resilience.
THE BAD
The 2026 Farm Invoice Signed by Governor
The 2026 Florida Farm Invoice, SB 290, by Sen. Truenow (R-Tavares), makes modifications to quite a few packages inside the Division of Agriculture and Client Providers (FDACS), however sadly weakens key protections for Florida’s setting.
Provisions within the invoice permit conservation lands aside from state parks, state forests, and wildlife administration areas purchased after 2023 to be reviewed for agricultural “suitability” and probably offered off for farm use, with the state retaining a Rural and Household Lands easement to stop future growth. Sale proceeds would go to fund the FDACS’ Rural and Household Lands Program as a substitute of being returned to the Florida Division of Environmental Safety’s (DEP) Florida Eternally program. This might create a pipeline by which some lands acquired in price title underneath the Florida Eternally program could possibly be transformed to agricultural use after which stay protected solely by the phrases of a Rural and Household Lands easement, completely weakening Florida’s conservation system and excluding public entry from lands shifted to agriculture.
SB 290 consists of an modification by Sen. Harrell (R-Stuart) that forestalls lands needed for Complete Everglades Restoration Plan tasks from being thought of surplus to Agriculture. Biosolids laws are additionally loosened, transferring towards Class AA purposes with out clear permits or DEP oversight, elevating dangers to water high quality and public lands. Audubon known as consideration to those dangerous provisions.
On a optimistic notice, the invoice’s sponsors in each the Home and the Senate made statements on the ground throughout debate that each one such surplus choices can be reviewed by the Acquisition and Restoration Council and could possibly be accredited solely by a public vote of the Governor and Cupboard.
Native Land Planning and Improvement Invoice Signed by Governor
Land Use and Improvement Rules, SB 208 by Sen. McClain (R-Ocala) and HB 399 by Rep. Borerro (R-Miami), makes a number of modifications to Florida’s development administration and land-use evaluation course of, accelerating housing growth and limiting native authorities discretion in growth choices. It requires native governments to obviously outline how they consider compatibility between residential makes use of of their complete plans and land growth laws.
Useful amendments adopted within the Senate blunted a number of the worst elements of the invoice by additional clarifying compatibility evaluation requirements, outlining procedures for documenting mitigation measures throughout growth evaluation, and reinforcing zoning parity for off-site constructed housing.
Environmental and planning advocates have raised considerations that the invoice additional limits the power of native governments to handle development and tackle growth impacts. By proscribing how communities can consider compatibility and requiring approval of sure housing sorts in single-family areas, the measure might make it tougher for native governments to contemplate infrastructure capability, environmental constraints, and group planning objectives when reviewing new growth.
Onsite Sewage Therapy and Disposal Invoice Signed by Governor
Onsite Sewage Therapy and Disposal Permits, SB 698 by Sen. Martin (R-Ft. Myers) and HB 589 by Rep. Nix (R-Port Charlotte) change how septic methods are permitted for single-family properties in Florida. Native governments can now not require householders or builders to acquire a state septic system building allow from the Florida Division of Environmental Safety earlier than issuing constructing or plumbing permits. As an alternative, candidates solely want to indicate proof that they’ve utilized for the septic allow.
The invoice additionally clarifies that native septic inspection packages can’t require repairs or upgrades until a system is definitely failing, and it supplies a 90-day grace interval earlier than new state septic guidelines apply to allow purposes.
Environmental considerations: Critics warn the change might permit residence building to maneuver ahead earlier than septic methods are totally reviewed or accredited, probably growing the danger of poorly sited methods that contribute vitamins and air pollution to Florida’s groundwater, springs, and waterways.
The Ugly
Whereas the ultimate finances consists of vital investments in some conservation priorities, together with Everglades restoration and water high quality, it notably neglects to supply any new devoted funding for Florida Eternally. That is the one program that creates new state parks, forests, and wildlife administration areas, with the first mission of preserving Florida’s pure sources.
As an alternative, the finances supplies a hefty $200 million line merchandise to the Rural and Household Lands Safety Program (RFLPP). This program of the Division of Agriculture and Client Providers purchases conservation easements on working farms and ranches to stop future growth and defend agricultural landscapes.
As well as, Part 151 of the finances sweeps unspent land acquisition funds from a previous Florida Eternally appropriation. Of this funding:
- A further $225 million is appropriated to RFLPP for conservation easements on massive agricultural properties that haven’t beforehand obtained funding by means of this system.
- The Florida Division of Environmental Safety is directed to buy unspecified “public entry conservation lands in Okaloosa County,” successfully skirting the sciencebased prioritization and transparency and accountability of the Florida Eternally course of.
- Any quantity remaining might then be used for accredited Florida Eternally tasks inside the Caloosahatchee Huge Cypress Hall and the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Hall, and eventually for tasks on the Florida Eternally precedence checklist. Of the acquisitions on this third class, the laws requires that not less than 50 % of these remaining funds be spent on conservation easements relatively than outright land purchases. Easements don’t permit public entry.
- Whereas Audubon has lengthy supported RFLPP as an necessary and beneficial element of Florida’s broader conservation technique— defending working farms and ranches by means of conservation easements—Florida leaders traditionally acknowledged that each packages are important as a result of they serve completely different functions in preserving the lands and waters that outline our state. Florida Eternally protects irreplaceable pure landscapes from growth, whereas RFLPP helps maintain agricultural lands and rural heritage. One can’t change the opposite.
By pitting these packages towards one another, the Legislature has damaged religion with the individuals of Florida and deserted a longstanding bipartisan dedication to balanced conservation.
We are going to proceed working with elected officers, company leaders, and conservation companions forward of the following legislative session to make sure Floridians perceive what’s at stake. Defending these lands is just not solely important to our wildlife and pure heritage, but in addition to our economic system, water high quality, resilience, and high quality of life for future generations.
This text was printed within the Summer time 2026 Naturalist.
