UPDATE: The 2024 legislative session ended on Friday, March 8 as lawmakers approved a $117 billion state budget.
The budget includes $702 million for Everglades restoration and $125 million for flood and sea-level rise programs. Land acquisition and management programs—such as Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program—will cumulatively receive $528.6 million. Other environmental funding includes:
- $207.4 million for habitat restoration and species conservation
- $31.8 million for water resource management
- $8 million for coral reef restoration and protection efforts
Read more: Here are some highlights in Florida’s $117 billion state budget
To get a quick recap of the bills that passed, visit our update post: Florida’s Environment – What Happened in the 2024 State Legislative Session?
ORIGINAL POST: The Florida State Legislative Session is an action-packed 60 days. This year’s session began on January 9 and ends on March 8.
Our student-led team has sifted through hundreds of bills to find those that pertain to our state’s environment. For some, we have talked to policy experts and scientists to provide context about how the proposed legislation might impact our state.
It is important to note that only a fraction of the bills that have been introduced are actively debated on the chamber floor. The only bill that absolutely must be passed is the state’s budget, which Gov. Ron DeSantis is referring to this year as the “Focus on Florida’s Future Budget.”
Our coverage is by no means exhaustive, but we hope it will orient you to the hot topics that are on lawmakers’ minds this session — climate change, energy, water quality/quantity, agriculture, and land conservation just to name a few.
Use the links below to learn more about some of this year’s proposed legislation. Learn how to track these bills in our previous Action of the Month.
Florida’s Environment: What Happened in the 2024 State Legislative Session?
Lawmakers approved a $117 billion state budget and several bills related to our state's environment.
Land Use Planning & Development
There are several bills on the table regarding funding for conservation projects, permitting rules, and changes to the Community Planning Act.
Energy
Bills address topics like electric vehicles, solid-waste-to-energy, alternative fuels, and more.
Agriculture
One bill looks to dissolve county soil and water conservation districts while another seeks to prevent regulation on agritourism.
Climate Change
Bills focus on property insurance, workplace heat exposure guidelines, hurricane protections, resilience measures, and more.
Water Quality & Quantity
Legislation introduced this session aims to address the quality and quantity of Florida’s water resources.
Recycling & Pollution
What does the state do with the massive number of materials and products that residents use — and then need to dispose of?
Habitats & Biodiversity
Several bills have the potential to affect some of the state’s most-loved species and the habitats they depend on.