The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning stormwater treatment and management, particularly focusing on regional stormwater management systems and water quality enhancement areas. It prohibits nonlocal governmental entities from conducting certain stormwater treatment and net improvement activities related to specific port activities. Key definitions are introduced, including "compensating stormwater treatment" and "pollutant reduction allocation." The Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts are tasked with ensuring that applicants demonstrate financial responsibility for the construction and maintenance of these systems, which must include a graphic depiction of the drainage area served.

Furthermore, the bill revises legislative findings on water quality enhancement areas, allowing governmental entities to utilize enhancement credits to satisfy environmental resource permit standards, while transferring legal responsibility for compliance from the user to the credit generator. It enhances the permitting process for activities affecting surface waters and wetlands, requiring applicants to assure that their activities will not violate state water quality standards. The bill also introduces new provisions regarding cash donations for mitigation, stipulating that all necessary permits must be secured before accepting donations, and that mitigation credits can only be granted for donations covering the full project cost. The act 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
S 848 c2: 311.106, 373.414
S 848 e1: 311.106, 373.414
S 848 er: 311.106, 373.414