The state of Florida contains immense water resources, with over 50,000 miles of rivers and streams, nearly 8,000 natural lakes, and 4,000 square miles of estuaries. However, these resources must support human activities, such as agriculture, industry, and public water supply, while still maintaining a sufficient, healthy supply for the natural environment. This makes the management of water quality and quantity critical for the continued function of both human and natural systems in the state.
Under the Florida Water Resources Act, all water resources are public and are to be managed collectively by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s water management districts. Movement of water throughout the state also makes localized water management efforts critical, as impacts spread far beyond the origin of the water or any pollutants. Several bills in the 2026 legislative session specify exactly where water management duties fall, and clarify the duties of water management districts, local governments, and landowners. In this context, this year’s legislative session represents a key moment in refining how Florida governs one of its most vital resources.
- Water Management Districts
- Special Districts
- Former Phosphate Mining Lands
- Standards for Storm Water Systems
- Landscape Irrigation
Water Management Districts
Water management responsibilities in Florida are divided among five water management districts which provide supervision over issues relating to water supply and quality, flood management and mitigation, and evaluation and protection of natural systems. For fiscal year 26-27, the preliminary budget split among the five districts exceeds $1.6 billion. Due to its crucial presence throughout Everglades restoration efforts, the South Florida Water Management District will be allocated over a billion dollars from the proposed budget.
In an effort to increase fiscal oversight among the districts, Rep. Bill Conerly (R) has introduced HB 701, the Water Management Districts Bill. Along with the identical SB 1120 introduced by Sen. Jason Brodeur (R), these bills require that the districts include a plan for capital improvements for the current and upcoming fiscal year along with the tentative annual budget submission, to ensure that funds are being appropriated properly to projects concerning water resources and natural systems. The districts will also be authorized to utilize ballot referendums to impose additional taxes for such projects. Additionally, the bills specifically mandate a report from the South Florida Water Management District and the Department of Environmental Protection that details the total estimated cost remaining of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, along with a status report on project components.
Last year, Sen. Brodeur also proposed a Water Management Districts Bill, SB 7002, along with Rep. Conerly’s similar HB 1169. These bills would have mandated very similar levels of oversight on district budgets as this year’s bills. In a media brief promoting SB 7002, Sen. Brodeur noted that among the districts, “increased resources for environmental restoration and in particular, Everglades Restoration” have “unfortunately manifested itself as mission creep, and left too many core operations at risk of failure.”
However, several groups were concerned that the increased scrutiny over the districts would have negative impacts. Kim Dinkins, policy and planning director at 1000 Friends of Florida, told Inside Climate News’ Amy Green that the additional oversight introduced by SB 7002 would “add another layer of bureaucracy to this really nationally recognized system of managing waters within their regions that is largely effective.”
Last year’s bills also faced mixed support within the Legislature, and SB 7002 died in Returning Messages, while HB 1169 was laid on the table indefinitely.
The prominent Florida environmental activism group Friends of the Everglades does not strictly agree or disagree with the provisions of this year’s Water Management Districts bill, and instead encourages watching it for any changes as it moves through committee. An environmental advocacy group, the Florida Springs Council, does support this bill, highlighting that the provision allowing water management districts to introduce a ballot referendum levying additional ad valorem taxes for water quality and quantity-related projects would “put the decision on how much Floridians pay to protect our water resources to the voters who are most impacted by the outcome.”
Special Districts
Florida is divided into hundreds of special districts, which are defined as units of local government created for a specific purpose. These districts are limited by geographic boundaries, and must be created or dissolved through legislation. Among these districts are Florida’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, which guide the implementation of practices that conserve soil productivity, protect groundwater, and improve water quality and quantity, typically at the county level.
The Special Districts Bill, HB 123 introduced by Rep. Toby Overdorf (R), would abolish 35 of these Soil and Water Conservation Districts. All assets and responsibilities of these districts would then be transferred to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), a state agency that manages the breadth of Florida’s agriculture, state forests and conservation lands, and consumer concerns. This measure also proposes a reduction of legal liability of special districts in the event of injury to persons or property caused by outdoor recreation on lands or waters within the permissions of that special district.
In 2025, Rep. Overdorf introduced HB 973, alongside the similar SB 986, introduced by Sen. Keith Truenow (R). These bills mirrored the language and impacts of HB 123, but HB 973 died in the State Affairs Committee, and SB 986 died in Community Affairs. Notably, House of Representatives bill analysts predicted that HB 973 may have produced a negative fiscal impact on FDACS “associated with monitoring the dissolution process of soil and water conservation districts.”
Currently, HB 123 does not face any outright support or opposition, though the Friends of the Everglades recommend watching this bill for any major alterations. Overall, the bill represents an effort to centralize conservation governance in Florida. Its reintroduction suggests continued legislative interest in restructuring special districts, warranting scrutiny of both its fiscal and environmental implications at the local and state levels.
Former Phosphate Mining Lands
Phosphate mining is one of the less publicly acknowledged industries in Florida, despite its substantial presence in the state, both physically and fiscally. Phosphate is a combination of phosphorus and other minerals that is primarily used in fertilizers, which are crucial for food production worldwide. More than 60% of the nation’s phosphate is mined in Florida, which is home to 28 phosphate mines covering over 450,000 acres, 11 of which are currently active. Due to the alteration of the pre-mine landscape, the Florida Legislature requires that all phosphate mines be reclaimed once mining is completed. This process of reclamation includes grading mine lands to more natural slopes, revegetating to pre-mining densities, and returning wetlands to their natural function and acreage in order to improve water quality and quantity.
In 1983, the legislature passed the Water Quality Assurance Act, which prohibits knowingly discharging pollutants or hazardous materials into Florida’s groundwater. Through this act, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) may sue any person or organization if found liable for such pollution.
In an effort to protect owners of former phosphate mining lands, Rep. Lawrence McClure (R) & Rep. Richard Gentry (R) introduced HB 167, the Former Phosphate Mining Lands Bill. Under this legislation, persons or entities owning former phosphate mining lands would retain a defense against liability through the Water Quality Assurance Act. If DEP finds that a “natural geological substance of a former phosphate mine” is present, the defendant can avoid liability by providing a notice that the property is a former phosphate mine and by requesting that the Department of Health conducts a radiation survey of the property.
The bill has experienced mixed reactions. The Friends of the Everglades are in opposition, citing its allowance for reduced liability for phosphate-based pollution. In contrast, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) supports this bill, asserting that “phosphate mining is a critical industry in Florida and is essential to providing sufficient fertilizers and agrichemicals for agricultural operations around the globe.” AIF expects that this bill will provide protections for producers and property owners of former phosphate mining lands.
In 2025, the Environmental and Natural Resources Subcommittee, the Senate Judiciary and Sen. Danny Burgess (R) introduced CS/SB 832, alongside similar companion bill CS/HB 585, introduced by the Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee and Rep. Jon Albert (R). In support of CS/SB 832, Sen. Kathleen Passidomo told Florida Phoenix journalist Mitch Perry that she doesn’t “believe that there should be strict liability for a former phosphate mine, just because it was a phosphate mine.” However, neither of the 2025 bills survived: CS/SB 832 died in returning Messages, and SB 986 died in the State Affairs Committee.
Conflicting interests suggest that this year’s Former Phosphate Mining Lands Bill will continue to encounter significant scrutiny as it moves through committee hearings and votes during the legislative session.
Standards for Storm Water Systems
Florida experiences between 40 and 60 inches of rainfall annually, which helps recharge the state’s aquifer and replenish aquatic ecosystems. However, manmade and impermeable surfaces turn much of this rainfall into runoff, which can accumulate urban pollutants before flowing into natural areas. In order to combat this phenomenon, modern storm water systems have been implemented throughout the state that help prevent flooding, direct the flow of rainwater to replenish groundwater, and minimize the amount of pollutants that are swept up in the water.
Intending to create additional standards for stormwater systems, Rep. J.J. Grow (R) has introduced HB 239, and Sen. Danny Burgess (R) has introduced the identical SB 558. These bills would require storm water systems at the county and municipality level to comply with specific Department of Transportation standards, and introduce more specific inspection requirements for these systems. The bill text specifically applies to pipe culverts and liners, which require careful planning and construction to reduce wear and to limit the amount of excavation required for maintenance.
The Friends of the Everglades recommend watching this bill for any major alterations, though there is very little additional public commentary. However, in 2025, Rep. J.J. Grow (R) introduced HB 739, alongside identical companion bill SB 1436, introduced by Sen. Stan McClain (R), both of which were extremely similar to this year’s Standards for Storm Water Systems bills. HB 739 died in the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, and SB 1436 died in Environment and Natural Resources.
If this year’s bills pass successfully, they will standardize stormwater infrastructure requirements across Florida, potentially improving system durability and performance while also increasing compliance and maintenance costs for local governments.
Landscape Irrigation
Despite Florida’s abundant rainfall, landscapes and lawns may still require additional irrigation. This is often due to landscaping plant choices, such as ornamentals or dense turf grasses, that are nonnative or unsuitable for the available rainfall and limited water retention in Florida soil. However, frequent landscape irrigation, especially in urban areas, can result in increased runoff pollution that makes its way into natural spaces, making irrigation regulations necessary.
Introduced by Sen. Keith Truenow (R), SB 508 will create the “Landscape Irrigation Standards and Watering Restrictions Act.” Alongside identical bill HB 611, introduced by Rep. Nan Cobb (R), this Act would impose more stringent residential lawn irrigation requirements in an attempt to reduce polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas. Local governments would be authorized to enforce the irrigation guidelines established in the bill, but would be restricted from enacting additional regulations beyond those laid out in the legislation.
Though these measures propose regulations aimed at mitigating runoff, they have faced backlash for the language preventing local governments from enforcing any additional restrictions. The Florida Springs Council opposes these bills, noting that local governments will be preempted “from enacting or enforcing more protective rules” beyond the standards set specifically by the bill.
In response to criticism, Sen. Truenow has continued to promote the bills, specifically SB 508. In an interview with Gabrielle Russon, a reporter with Florida Politics, Sen. Truenow described the lack of uniformity and statewide standards in current irrigation regulations, touting SB 508 as a solution that will bring “developers, irrigation professionals, and water experts to the table to craft solutions that work for everyone and will last for generations.”