House Bill 1169 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning water management districts, introducing new definitions and requirements to enhance accountability and governance. The bill defines "expenditure" and mandates the Commission on Ethics to investigate lobbyists or principals making prohibited expenditures, with a report to the Governor. It establishes that a quorum is necessary for the governing board of a water management district to conduct official business, requiring a majority vote for any actions taken. Additionally, the South Florida Water Management District is required to provide detailed reports on the Everglades restoration plan, including estimated costs and project statuses, while prohibiting the use of state funds for certain purposes.

The bill also enhances the budgeting process for water management districts by requiring preliminary budgets to include detailed justifications for proposed expenditures, a capital improvement plan, and specific information on projects under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. It modifies the Legislative Budget Commission's authority regarding budget proposals and introduces a preference for bids that include a 10-year construction bond for significant capital improvement projects. Furthermore, the bill establishes a framework for project submissions addressing flooding and sea level rise, introduces a revolving loan program for financing projects, and mandates a minimum annual funding of $100 million for projects in the plan. The Resilient Florida Trust Fund will support various projects, including the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1169 Filed: 373.079, 373.470, 373.503, 373.535, 373.6075, 380.095