The State Park Preservation Act seeks to improve the management and conservation of state lands in Florida by amending various sections of the Florida Statutes. The bill mandates public hearings for all updated conservation and nonconservation land management plans, requiring the Division of State Lands of the Department of Environmental Protection to provide electronic copies of these plans to the public within a specified timeframe. It also revises the responsibilities of the Division of Recreation and Parks to ensure that parks and recreational areas are managed primarily for conservation-based public outdoor recreational uses, while prohibiting certain construction activities and lodging establishments within state parks.

Additionally, the bill requires the development of individual management plans for parcels within state parks, which must be created with input from advisory groups that hold properly noticed public hearings. These management plans are to include measurable objectives, detailed land management goals, and a schedule of activities, all subject to review and approval by the Acquisition and Restoration Council and the board of trustees. The bill introduces provisions for visitor accommodations while ensuring public access to natural curiosities, prohibits new concession agreements in certain state parks, and mandates the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a report on the state park system by December 1, 2025. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 80 Filed: 253.034, 258.004, 259.032
S 80 c1: 253.034, 258.004