The 2025 Florida legislative session came to an end on June 26th, after two extensions, as lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion state budget, a $3 billion decrease compared to the current fiscal year.
The budget includes more than $1.5 billion for restoration and protection projects. Land acquisition programs such as the Florida Forever Program will receive $130 million. Other environmental funding includes:
- $550 million for targeted water quality improvements
- $805 million for Everglades Restoration
- $85 million to specifically address algae blooms and red tide
- $232 million for several water storage projects
Read more: 2025 Florida Legislature and check out a budget breakdown here.
Bills that Passed
At the start of the 2025 state legislative session, our student-led team sifted through more than a thousand bills to find those that pertain to our state’s environment. To learn more about the variety of bills introduced in this session, visit our original post.
Of the bills we covered, see below for those that passed. While some have already been signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, others are awaiting his signature.
Water Quality & Quantity
- SB 492: Amends previous laws around mitigation banks. It increases the regulations around mitigation banks and the criteria for property acquisition and permitting. Learn more.
- HB 1143: Prohibits drilling, exploration, or production of specified petroleum products within certain distances of national estuarine research reserves in specific counties. It mandates the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to assess environmental risks and apply a balancing test when evaluating drilling permits.
Land Use Planning & Development
- CS/CS/HB 209: Mandates that state parks must be built with conservation-based recreational use concepts in mind. The definition for this is explicitly described and gives examples of recreational opportunities that are and are not conservation-based. This bill also amplifies community input, as it requires that public hearings be held in the event of any update to land management plans. The bill’s provisions include that no lodging can be larger than a maximum occupancy of six people, and any building mentioned in 509.242 of the Florida Statutes cannot be built in state parks. Learn more.
Recycling & Pollution
- HB 295: Directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a statewide comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by July 1, 2026, based on recommendations from its 2020 report. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to convene a technical assistance group to aid in developing the plan and to submit a report to the Legislature upon completion. Learn more.
Habitats & Biodiversity
- CS/CS/HB 209: Mandates that state parks must be built with conservation-based recreational use concepts in mind. The definition for this is explicitly laid out and gives examples of recreational opportunities that are and are not conservation-based. This bill also amplifies community input, as it requires that public hearings be held in the event of any update to land management plans. The bill’s provisions include that no lodging can be larger than a maximum occupancy of six people, and any building mentioned in 509.242 of the Florida Statutes cannot be built in state parks. Learn more.
- SB 388: Revises the statutes governing Florida’s wildlife trust funds by expanding the allowable uses of the Grants and Donations Trust Fund and updating provisions related to the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund. This will remove the requirements of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allocate a specific administrative unit for the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund; instead, allowing funds to be used for law enforcement. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Climate & Natural Hazards
- CS/CS/SB 180: Updates the emergency management plan by limiting regulation on property repairs. Proponents say that this bill will expedite recovery efforts in severely impacted areas. This will allow both county and municipal governments to ignore permits and requirements that are in place to mitigate construction hazards on a beach. The bill will authorize certain service members to provide medical care in specified circumstances when an emergency occurs. The Division of Emergency Management will be tasked with aiding political subdivisions and revising training requirements, including an annual hurricane readiness session that will be conducted in each region.
- CS/CS/SB 56: Regulates and prohibits certain practices that would intentionally change atmospheric conditions, such as weather manipulation for agriculture, disaster mitigation, or other purposes, unless specifically authorized by state law. This bill limits the modification of weather, temperature, and sunlight in the atmosphere, establishing restrictions on activities that could have environmental impacts. Learn more.
Agriculture
- SB 700: Updates regulations overseen by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Key provisions include exempting certain FDACS positions from the Career Service System, strengthening protections for school-based agriculture programs, and requiring electric utilities to submit long-term site plans for new power plants. The bill also introduces new regulations for electric vehicle charging stations and includes a measure to remove fluoride from Florida’s drinking water. Beyond agriculture and energy, the bill extends concealed carry rights to all military personnel, bans the use of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores in loan assessments, prohibits the distribution of psychedelic mushroom spores, and restricts charitable donations from international organizations based in certain countries. One of the most impactful consumer-related changes is the repeal of the Consumer Unit Pricing Act, eliminating the requirement for retailers to display price per unit on products. Learn more.