This bill proposes the transfer and renumbering of the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification program from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, renaming it as section 604.75 of the Florida Statutes. The bill establishes the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Act, which includes legislative findings that highlight the agricultural nature of golf courses and the appropriateness of the Department of Agriculture overseeing the certification. The bill outlines the responsibilities of the turfgrass science program at the University of Florida, which will administer the certification, provide training, and issue certificates for compliance with best management practices related to fertilizer application on golf courses.

Additionally, the bill specifies that certified individuals are exempt from certain local training and ordinances regarding water and fertilizer use, unless a state of emergency is declared. It also clarifies that certification does not exempt individuals from complying with basin management action plans. The bill includes provisions for the continuation of existing contracts related to the certification program and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, for the transfer of responsibilities.