The vibrant biodiversity of Florida’s ecosystems is a defining characteristic of the Sunshine State. Accordingly, legislators often focus on strengthening protections for Florida’s unique species and their essential habitats. This year’s bills explore the delicate balance of Florida’s natural world and related ongoing conservation efforts:
- Designation of the State Bird
- Conservation Lands
- Taking and Exporting Aquatic Animal Species
- Tributaries of the St. Johns River
- Beach Management
- Local Government Enforcement Actions
Designation of the State Bird
The Northern mockingbird has been Florida’s state bird since 1927. It is also the state bird of four other states: Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. As of 2025, no state has an official state songbird; however, many states have a songbird as the state bird. Legislators are proposing updates to the state birds of Florida as we approach the 100th year of distinction.
SB 150, introduced by Sen. Ana Rodriguez (R) and co-introduced by Sen. Gayle Harrel (R) and its identical counterpart HB 11, introduced by Rep. Jim Mooney (R) and Rep. Chip LaMarca (R) and co-introduced by several lawmakers, designates the American flamingo as the official Florida state bird and the Florida scrub jay as the official Florida state songbird.
While the Northern mockingbird has its own varied, repetitive song, it is also a skilled mimic, mirroring the song of other birds or even sports cars and cell phones.
The American flamingo is a native Florida bird that gets its pink color from pigment in its food, such as shrimp or other aquatic invertebrates.
The Florida scrub jay is an endemic bird to Florida, meaning it is found nowhere else. A sandy habitat or scrubby flatwood is its preferred place to live, but its habitat has been limited by human development. Prescribed fires help maintain the naked ground and short plants critical to their survival.
One supporter of the bill being passed is Rep. Jim Mooney (R). As the filer of the bills, he states that flamingos are visually represented via postcards, the lottery ticket, and lawns. Plus, the flamingo has represented Florida for him ever since he was a kid.
On the other hand, several others are against the flamingo replacing the mockingbird. North Florida lawmakers, for instance, believe the flamingo is only a South Florida wonder.
Conservation Lands
HB 441, introduced by Rep. Kim Kendall (R) and Rep. Allison Tant (D) and co-introduced by many lawmakers, as well as the identical SB 546, introduced by Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R) and co-introduced by Sen. Gayle Harrell (R), aim to increase notice, transparency, and accountability regarding the sale or exchange of state-owned conservation lands.
Overall, the bills require the Division of State Lands to publish information before council and board meetings, appraise parcels proposed for exchange, and requires the water management districts to publish information before reviewing land sales or exchanges. HB 441 adds multiple new requirements and repeals certain existing provisions to SB 546.
If these bills pass, the idea is that the Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement and the Acquisition & Restoration Council will be better able to review the proposed sale of conservation lands. Next, tracts of land proposed for exchange will be scored based on a list of criteria to improve management efficiency. Finally, Florida’s five water management districts will have information available for reference to assist in deciding on a proposed sale or exchange of land.
Residents United for Rural Levy (RURL) advocates for this set of bills, stating how they strengthen public notice and transparency for proposed sales or swaps of conservation land. They noted their ongoing support in a recent Facebook post.
The Florida Wildlife Federation recognizes that this proposed legislation may affect the integrity of lands already protected for conservation purposes. They argue that the Guana River Wildlife Management Area land swap from 2025 would not result in a net conservation benefit and create irreversible habitat destruction.
Taking and Exporting Aquatic Animal Species
Almost half (over 47%) of juvenile manta rays have been resighted in South Florida waters, indicating that the area is an important nursery habitat. One of the species that congregate there is the giant manta ray, the largest ray with a wingspan of up to 26 feet. The giant manta ray has small, highly fragmented populations sparsely distributed throughout the world, including migration through the Florida Gulf coast. This population is at risk due to boat strikes, rising ocean temperatures, and fishing practices that leave rays tangled in nets or targeted for poaching.
Last August, a video of a fishing boat catching a giant manta ray off Panama City beach went viral. The fishermen, working through Dynasty Marine Associates, caught the endangered species for display at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Following public backlash, this video led a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers to sign a letter urging Florida’s wildlife agency to revoke the permit that gave the company jurisdiction and suspend future licenses. Rodney Barreto, chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), replied in rule hearings in 2026 and stated the agency stopped issuing marine special activity licenses to capture sharks and manta rays under the Endangered Species Act as of August 19, 2025.
In January 2026, Florida enacted the “Marine and Aquatic Native Threatened Animal Protection Act” through SB 988, introduced by Sen. Ileana Garcia (R), and HB 1171, co-introduced by Rep. Lindsay Cross (D), Rep. Linda Chaney (R), and Rep. Gossett-Seidman (R). Under this act, people “may not take, attempt to take, possess, transport, or export any endangered, threatened, or vulnerable aquatic animal species from state waters for exhibition or educational purposes.” Activities authorized under a special activity license issued by the FWC are included because the commission would no longer legally authorize licenses for these species. This accounts for any species on the official Florida list of endangered and threatened species by the FWC or within the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
This legislation, however, does not prohibit rescue, rehabilitation, or scientific study of aquatic animal species under state or federal authorization consistent with the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or FWC rules. Rep. Lindsay Cross (D) stated for Bay News 9 that the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a great example of a responsible facility, hosting animals which were rescued from injuries and illnesses. HB 1171 is almost identical to SB 988 except for the addition of defining a violation to the legislation as a Level Four offense, where each individual animal taken is considered a separate offense.
There is debate on whether captivity is more beneficial than harmful for marine conservation. “Viewing live animals that few, if any, would be able to see in the wild, may motivate the public to support marine conservation efforts in general” stated Stephen Murawski, a professor of biological oceanography at USF St. Pete, for The Oracle. This perspective treats the bill as a cultural statement rather than a biological one, highlighting the ongoing tension between conservation through education and protection through preservation.
Tributaries of the St. Johns River
In 1964, construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal (CFBC), followed by the completion of the Rodman (now Kirkpatrick) Dam, stopped the natural flow of the Ocklawaha River. Though the progress of the CFBC has been halted since 1971, the Ocklawaha River remains stunted by the lasting impacts of the interrupted water flow.
SB 1066, introduced by Sen. Jason Brodeur (R), and its identical counterpart HB 981, introduced by Rep. Wyman Duggan (R), champion a historic milestone for the Florida legislature, as they are the first bills filed for Ocklawaha River restoration. By restoring the Ocklawaha, the Great Florida Riverway (Silver Springs, Ocklawaha River, and St. Johns River) could be connected, upon the bill becoming a law.
These bills outline specific duties of the task force, including the hiring of a project lead to oversee implementation, assigned to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP would also be responsible for developing the plan to restore or enhance the Ocklawaha River, as well as for outdoor recreation. SB 1066 emphasizes that the project must be designated for environmental restoration or enhancement, permitted by the DEP, and Florida’s water management districts.
In addition, these bills establish the creation of the Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council. HB 981 also writes that the Department of Commerce will develop an economic development program for Marion & Putnam Counties.
Proponents say these bills will improve ecological health, manatee habitats, and outdoor recreation. According to Linda Meyers of the Great Riverways Trust, restoring the riverway avoids dam failure, provides stream resilience, enhances water quality, and reconnects a corridor for fish, manatees, and people.
Opponents are fighting to keep the dam in place. The group Save the Rodman argues that the representatives of the bill are not familiar with the area, so they should not be making decisions that impact people outside of their zone. Other opponents worry about downstream contamination from accumulated discharge. However, scientists of Florida have since proven this worry wrong. Every three or four years, the water level of the Rodman Reservoir is lowered, allowing for control of aquatic plants. During these periods, the river functions without downstream pollution.
Beach Management
Sandy beaches make up 825 miles of Florida’s coastline, yet as of 2025, more than 451.1 miles of this shoreline are critically eroded, worn down, or changed to “such a degree that upland development, recreational interests, wildlife habitat, or important cultural resources are threatened or lost,” according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Between 2020 and 2050, sea levels in Florida are projected to rise by 6 to 14 inches, placing many coastal communities in imminent danger of flooding and storm surges. Beaches are eroded by natural causes, but human activities like coastal development or construction of navigation channels and inlets have exacerbated the issue and changed the natural flow of water and sand. Beach restoration and nourishment programs are in place throughout the state to tackle this issue.
SB 636, introduced by Sen. Thomas Leek (R), and identical bill HB 1297, introduced by Rep. Sam Greco (R), would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review data related to beaches that have been preemptively and repeatedly repaired to avoid complete erosion and for which private, local government, or state and federal funding have been expended to stop or mitigate. The state would determine which beaches are critically eroded and in need of restoration and nourishment and will provide up to 75% of these with funding, with local governments responsible for the rest. The bills also provide that, if a local government with jurisdiction over a beach has a financial plan that ensures funding for inclusion in the state strategic beach management plan, such beach must be designated as “critically eroded.” The financial plan must include: (1) a perpetual easement requiring the local government to maintain shoreline parcels to protect high value inland developments, and (2) the beach has geological features and insufficient space for erosion control that result in repeated inland flooding or structural damage.
The bills would also allow the DEP to require coastal local governments to develop local strategic beach management plans and provide guidance on what to include in such plans. It also expands the ‘area of critical state concern’ designation to include low-elevation sections inland of dunes and beaches. To qualify, these areas must have experienced repeated seawater breaching or overtopping that flows into interconnected stormwater systems or have been subject to a prolonged local emergency declaration.
In Bonita Springs, some residents view the “critically eroded” designation as essential for ensuring that tax dollars are consistently allocated to beach restoration and nourishment projects. However, opinions remain divided over how effective these projects actually are. For instance, in 2024, many homeowners in Pinellas County refused to include their beachfront properties in nourishment efforts. Some property owners either underestimate the risks of flooding and storm surges or regard their coastal properties as short-term investments, making them reluctant to support restoration costs. Meanwhile, competing priorities of expanding coastal development versus improving public access and environmental protection further complicate decision-making. “Despite Florida generating over $3 billion annually in tourist sales taxes, less than 1% of these funds go toward shoreline maintenance,” states Naples Daily News. The proposed legislation aims to correct this imbalance by directing more funding to the areas most in need.
By focusing on better data and comprehensive planning, the bill aims to make restoration and nourishment projects more cost-effective and sustainable. It also encourages local governments to plan for sea level rise and storm impacts, shifting from reactive to proactive management. It ensures that state resources are directed to areas with the most significant, documented needs.
Local Government Enforcement Actions
In Florida, local governments can enforce their own environmental regulations through approved pollution control programs, which often include ordinances that go beyond state standards. However, SB 588, introduced by Sen. Stan McClain (R), and companion bill HB 105, introduced by Rep. Robert A. Brackett (R), would restrict this local authority. The bills allow businesses or individuals to sue local governments if they deem an enforcement action unreasonable. Lawsuits must be filed within 180 days, after which a court decides whether the government’s action was arbitrary. If so, the court may award damages of up to $5,000, issue an injunction to halt the action, or require the government to cover the plaintiff’s legal fees. The bills also protect individuals who disclose information leading to a lawsuit, while denying local governments’ reimbursement even if they prevail. This reduces financial risk for plaintiffs but potentially increases costs for taxpayers.
The bills define “enforcement action” as “any decision, determination, demand, inspection, citation, order, denial, interpretation, or other regulatory action undertaken by a local government entity,” except for:
- Proprietary activities
- Law enforcement actions
- Workers’ compensation actions
- Employment or personnel actions
- Procurement
- Franchises
- Budget adoption or amendment
- Emergency actions
- Debt issuance or refinancing
- Actions or decisions that apply equally to all similarly situated persons
- Reasonable interpretations of existing rules, ordinances, resolutions, statutes, or regulations.
Rep. Robert A. Brackett (R) said the bill “gives citizens the path to request review, receive timely responses, and if necessary seek relief when government does not follow its rules.” and was meant to help “the little guy.” This legislation may make local governments less likely to pursue ordinances due to fear of litigation; this includes environmental regulations like lighting ordinances for protection of sea turtles. The Sea Turtle Conservancy and Friends of the Everglades are in opposition of this legislation.
Artificial beachfront lighting harms loggerhead and green sea turtles by disrupting their natural orientation behaviors. Hatchlings are especially vulnerable because they use artificial light cues to reach the ocean, but thousands are instead led inland and made more susceptible to crushing, desiccation, and predation. After building on Florida’s coast boomed in the 1970s and impacts of light pollution were observed in excess, local governments have made rules that support protection of sea turtles. Starting in the mid-1980s with Brevard County, 42 local governments adopted lighting ordinances by 1993, and this number keeps rising.
If your property is adjacent to sea turtle nesting beaches, the FWC has lighting guidelines for homeowners. These voluntary guidelines complement the local lighting ordinances that have protected sea turtles for decades.
Other Bills: