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SCCF provides legislative update on Week 8

By HOLLY SCHWARTZ - | Apr 27, 2021

PHOTO PROVIDED Holly Schwartz

The Joint Budget Conference Committee Chairs met on April 23 to continue their budget negotiations. As of then, there were just four days remaining before the state budget had to be presented to the full legislature. Once the state budget is submitted to the legislature, a 72-hour waiting period is required by law before the final vote. The budget had to be presented by April 27 if the legislature is to finish on its scheduled final date of April 30.

The Joint (House/Senate) Agriculture, Environment and General Government Budget Conference Committee members met two weekends ago for their first budget negotiation session. As of April 23, the Senate had agreed to accept the House’s budget proposal of $100 million for the Florida Forever land acquisition program. This is a significant improvement from the Senate’s original proposal of $50 million. On April 21, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation put out an Action Alert to thank legislators for agreeing to fund the program at $100 million and to reinforce the importance of adequately funding this critical program. We thank everyone who has already contacted our legislators on this issue and remind those that haven’t there is still time to do so at https://p2a.co/inMoVor.

With this being the last scheduled week to the 2021 Legislative Session, the following is a short update of some of the bills that the SCCF has been following:

– Growth Management: SB 1876 — Relief from Burdens on Real Property rights was only briefly debated before the Senate Rules Committee passed it by a vote of 10-6. This is a preemption bill that expands the scope of Bert J. Harris private property rights and could result in litigation against local governments for enforcing comprehensive planning measures in their communities. As of April 23, the Senate bill was on the Senate Special Order Calendar (second reading out of three) and is likely to pass. The House version, HB 421/HB 1101, had already passed the full House and was sent to the Senate for consideration.

– Ecosystem Restoration: After some initial encouraging momentum, SB 1522, Implement Recommendations of Blue/Green Algae Task Force did not make it out of its last committee. Unless this bill is amended on to a related bill that has already passed all of its referenced committees, this bill will not pass this session.

– SB 88, HB 1601– Farming Operations (Right to Farm) passed both chambers and has been forwarded to the governor for his signature. This was a controversial bill that opponents say creates opportunities for absolute protection from lawsuits in certain cases including the movement of harmful smoke or particle emissions to adjacent properties, but supporters say it will prevent frivolous lawsuits.

– Water Quality: The SCCF initially opposed SB 268 — Preemption of Local Occupational Licensing as a provision in this bill prevents local government ordinances from requiring best management practices by fertilizer applicators. There have been several amendments filed that would address this concern and are supported by the SCCF. As of April 23, this bill was on second reading in the Senate and its companion, HB 735, passed the full House and was sent to the Senate for consideration.

We’ve updated the SCCF Legislative Tracker to include the 2021 Bill Actions Webpage, which gives the status of all the bills that have passed so far, the timelines for signature by the governor and which ones have become law. Visit it at www.sccf.org/our-work/environmental-policy. After April 30, the SCCF will send out a complete legislative review of the bills we’ve been tracking this session.

Thank you for your participation in these issues that have direct impact on our water quality and the greater health of our environment.

Holly Schwartz is environmental policy assistant for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. Founded in 1967, the SCCF is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva and in the surrounding watershed. For more information, visit www.sccf.org.