Monday’s House committee approved a list of land acquisition and environment bills. However, not all were unanimously supported.
Three bills considered in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Monday afternoon would bolster Florida’s efforts to preserve land through conservation, water projects and more. But legislation to set aside $20 million annually to improve the water quality of rivers in Florida’s heartland has received pushback from environmental activists and others.
The bill (HB 603), filed by Fort Meade Republican Rep. Melony Bell, would provide consistent money to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for designing or constructing projects that protect, restore or enhance Central Florida’s headwaters. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the region’s water supply affects 32 counties and approximately half the state. SB 1400Sponsor and Zephyrhills Republican SenatorDanny Burgess.
The money would be paid out of the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (LATF), and used to implement the 2017 Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act. This outlines the expenditures. Environmental organizations are questioning whether the bill is a proper use of the funds, as a result of a 2015 lawsuit about how the Legislature spent the resources.
Critics claim that a 2014 amendment required the state to use the trust funds for nature-based solutions. Florida Conservation Voters lobbyists Lindsay CrossAccording to the bill, the money could be used for projects such as graywater infrastructure.
“We recognize that freshwater sources are becoming more scarce as our population grows, and that it is wise to plan for the future,” Cross said. “This is why it’s even more important to invest our public dollars strategically and as the voters intended, towards conservation and restoration.”
Nearly 75% voters approved the 2014 amendment. It was supported by Florida Conservation Voters, a coalition of environmental nonprofits, and Florida Conservation Voters. In 2015, groups sued to claim that the Legislature had improperly expended the funds.
A Leon County judge sided in favor of environmental groups and declared several expenditures made in 2015-2016 unconstitutional. An appeals court, however, sided with the Legislature and referred the case back to it to determine if expenditures made after the amendment was implemented were unconstitutional. An earlier in the month, a county judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating that the funds were already spent.
The legislation was approved unanimously by the Senate, despite opposition from Florida Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club of Florida, among others. Orlando Democratic Rep. Daisy MoralesMonday’s vote was against the measure, as it passed 13-1 from the committee.
Next, the House bill will be sent to its second of three committees, which is the House Environment, Agriculture and Flooding Subcommittee. It will then be referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee as its final stop.
Despite opposition, two other measures were passed easily through the House panel. One similar bill was filed by Islamorada Republican Rep. Jim Mooney (HB 449) would provide $20 million from the LATF for DEP to use toward the 2016 Florida Keys Stewardship Act. However, Mooney’s measure specifies the funds cannot be used for wastewater projects.
The Keys are home to the world’s third largest barrier reef and the only living coral reef system in the continental United States, Mooney said. They also have the largest western hemisphere marine grass meadow and more that 6,000 species of marine wildlife.
After receiving unanimous approval Monday, Mooney’s bill next heads to the House Environment, Agriculture and Flooding Subcommittee. The companion measure was submitted by Doral Republican Senator. Ana Maria Rodriguez (SB 602) hasn’t received a hearing yet.
Finally, a bill from West Palm Beach Republican Rep. Rick Roth (HB 1377) would annually transfer $100 million from the Florida Forever Trust Fund to the LATF. Orlando Democratic Senator has an accompanying measure.Linda Stewart (SB 1816) unanimously passed its first committee and awaits a hearing in its second of three, the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee.
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