House Bill 1457 amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance stormwater treatment and water quality management. It introduces new definitions for "compensating stormwater treatment" and "total land area," while revising legislative findings to underscore the importance of adhering to water quality standards. The bill mandates that compensating stormwater treatment must comply with specific provisions unless certain conditions, such as ownership and operation by the same entity, are met. It also outlines the types of mitigation measures that the Department of Environmental Protection or water management districts must consider and allows certain entities to generate and sell mitigation measures or enhancement credits to environmental resource permit applicants. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the use of public lands in stormwater management and modifies existing language regarding cash donations for mitigation projects to ensure full cost coverage.

Furthermore, the bill allows individual residential property owners to remove organic detrital material from freshwater bodies without a permit, provided they meet specific conditions, including avoiding wetland areas and maintaining water quality standards. It also requires that removed materials be placed on an upland spoil site and that the relevant department be notified before work begins. The definition of "excavate" is amended to include activities beneath state waters, and provisions related to mitigation banks are reenacted, allowing the use of credits from outside a mitigation bank's service area under certain conditions. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1457 Filed: 373.036, 373.250, 373.421, 556.102