Guest commentary: Governor’s last-minute veto of Safe Waterways Act
On June 26 we issued an action alert telling you there were indications from Tallahassee that Gov. Ron DeSantis was considering blocking HB 165, the “Safe Waterways Act.” A few hours later news broke that this important legislation indeed one of several bills vetoed. Thank you to those who sent messages to the governor’s office in support, even though the outcome is thoroughly disheartening to many of us.
This legislation aimed to establish and enforce more consistent regulations to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of individuals utilizing beach waters and public bathing areas affected by fecal contamination.
The bill passed unanimously in the Florida House and Senate, with votes of 40-0 in the Senate and 113-0 in the House.
The governor’s last-minute veto negates three years of persistent effort and multiple legislative sessions dedicated to this cause, championed by clean water experts. This included advocacy work by the Calusa Waterkeeper, Waterkeepers Florida, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Surfrider Florida and many other organizations and legislative teams.
The Calusa Waterkeeper views the governor’s decision as a troubling instance of prioritizing tourism revenue over scientific evidence and public health concerns. And so it will remain an open question on why local elected officials should supersede the authority of the Florida Department of Health, the agency vested with protecting the health of all Floridians?
Rest assured this will not be the end of the Safe Waterways Act and this effort. The advocates and legislators involved will be prepared to take on this issue again in the next Florida legislative session.
Capt. Codty Pierce is the Calusa Waterkeeper for the Calusa Waterkeeper. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to the protection of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary in Southwest Florida. For more information, visit https://calusawaterkeeper.org/.