The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to natural resources, particularly focusing on land acquisition, management, and funding for environmental projects. Notably, it deletes provisions that previously authorized the Department of Financial Services to disburse funds from the Indian Gaming Revenue Clearing Trust Fund and repeals the Local Trail Management Grant Program. The bill also revises requirements for applications for full fee simple acquisition projects, updates the list of entities that state agencies may contract with for land management, and establishes new criteria for assessing project eligibility in the statewide flooding and sea-level rise plan.

Additionally, the bill includes a legislative declaration that acquiring land for water storage north of Lake Okeechobee is in the public interest and authorizes the South Florida Water Management District to acquire land for a reservoir project. It mandates that at least 25% of funds for the water quality improvement grant program be dedicated to projects in rural areas of opportunity and requires the Department of Environmental Protection to announce grant awards by a specific date each fiscal year. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 2506 Filed: 253.0251, 259.032, 380.093, 380.095, 403.0673
S 2506 e1: 17.71, 253.0251, 259.032, 259.037, 259.1055, 260.0145, 373.026, 380.093, 380.095
S 2506 er: 17.71, 253.0251, 259.032, 259.037, 259.1055, 260.0145, 373.026, 380.093, 380.095