The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes concerning stormwater treatment and water quality enhancement areas. It introduces new definitions for "compensating stormwater treatment" and "total land area," while revising legislative findings to highlight the significance of water quality enhancement areas. The legislation mandates that compensating stormwater treatment must adhere to specific provisions unless certain conditions are met, and it allows entities to apply for provisional permits for water quality enhancement areas, which the Department of Environmental Protection is required to issue if criteria are satisfied. The bill also clarifies the types of mitigation measures to be considered and permits the generation and transfer of mitigation credits by third parties.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of public landowners regarding compensatory stormwater treatment activities on public lands, including directives to halt operations if they are deemed contrary to the public interest. It includes provisions for accepting cash donations for mitigation projects, ensuring that these donations cover the full costs. The bill emphasizes compliance with water quality standards and allows compensating stormwater treatment to be used as a mitigation measure. Furthermore, it introduces a unified statewide methodology for delineating wetlands, updates the definition of wetlands, and clarifies that existing definitions will be superseded by the new standards upon ratification. The bill also modifies the definition of "excavate" and establishes guidelines for mitigation service areas related to mitigation banks, allowing for the use of credits from mitigation banks outside their designated service areas under specific conditions. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 848 Filed: 373.414, 373.036, 373.250, 373.421, 556.102
S 848 c1: 373.414, 373.036, 373.250, 373.421, 556.102