This bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to enhance stormwater treatment and water quality management. It introduces new definitions for "compensating stormwater treatment" and "total land area" in section 373.019, clarifying that compensating stormwater treatment involves methods for discharges from multiple parcels and must comply with specific provisions unless certain conditions are met. The bill also revises legislative findings in section 373.4134, emphasizing that water quality enhancement areas can provide credits to permit applicants, transferring legal responsibility for compliance from the credit user to the credit generator. Additionally, it outlines that compensating stormwater treatment must adhere to these regulations unless the treatment and discharging parcels are under the same ownership or the treatment directly receives stormwater from the total land area.

Further amendments include provisions for mitigation measures in section 373.414, allowing third parties to generate and sell enhancement credits to permit applicants, and requiring public landowners to cease activities if determined contrary to public interest. The bill also updates the definition of "excavate" or "excavation" to encompass various methods of disturbing the earth's surface, including trenchless technologies. It establishes that mitigation service areas must be created for each bank permit and introduces a system of multipliers to determine compensatory mitigation based on proximity and type of credits available. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and aims to improve stormwater management practices while ensuring compliance with water quality standards.

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