Will our state parks be saved?
After the massive outcry last summer over plans to develop golf courses, massive hotels, pickleball courts and more in Florida’s award-winning state parks, Gov. Ron DeSantis scuttled the proposals. Now the legislature, responding to the public anger, is proposing a pair of bills to prohibit inappropriate development in our state parks.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell, and House Bill 209, by Rep. John Snyder, may not be tight enough. Both bills articulate specific uses that would be prohibited, like golf courses, but it’s impossible to list every use that won’t be permitted. We’re bound to omit something — and that means new inappropriate development proposals could arise from this blind spot.
Amending the bill by adding a section on prohibitions that contains language barring any use that has a material impact on the natural resources of the state park would close this loophole — and we’re advocating for just that.
Elsewhere, it’s shaping up as yet another “session of sprawl,” with multiple bills filed to expedite the development and building process. These include SB 1128/HB 1035, which specifies that building permit applications in an area where an emergency has been declared within the past 24 months, and which have been approved by an engineer or architect, are automatically deemed approved. SB 1118 specifies that owners of land designed as an “agricultural enclave” can seek administrative approval of development regardless of the future land use map designation or any conflicting comprehensive plan goals, objectives or policies.
Another pair of troubling bills is SB 832/HB 585, “Former Phosphate Mining Lands,” which protect mining companies like Mosaic from lawsuits by eliminating strict liability in claims arising from “the natural geology substance” of a former phosphate mine. The bills require detailed radiation surveys of a site and documentation of radiation levels before a negligence claim could be filed.
With an eye on the proposed Southland Rock Mine in the Everglades Agricultural Area, we’re closely watching another set of bills regarding rock mining, SB 486/HB 303. These bills would give the Division of Administrative Hearings, not the courts, jurisdiction over all claims for damages to real or personal property caused by limestone mining operations.
There are good proposals too, including a pair of bills (SB 978/HB 861) which would speed up the process of identifying and expediting needed repairs to sewage disposal facilities. SB 946 would prohibit certain types of waste facilities within two miles of the Everglades Protection Area — a clear nod to the controversy in Miami-Dade over plans to build a new incinerator.
And one measure we’re watching particularly closely is SB 7002, which would impose new budgetary requirements on the state’s water management districts and could force districts to hold a referendum whenever they wish to use property taxes to finance a project.
For the list of bills we support, oppose and are watching, visit our Legislative Accountability page. Our list of bills is updated daily. You also will find our 2025 Legislative Priorities on this page.
The deadline for filing bills is Monday, March 4 — the first day of session. The 2025 Legislative session runs 60 days and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, May 2.
