Bill > H0585

This bill addresses legal and regulatory issues related to former phosphate mining lands in Florida, establishing several key provisions. The legislation first recognizes phosphate mining as an essential agricultural activity and creates a framework for managing potential environmental and legal concerns associated with these lands. Landowners can now record a notice in county records identifying their property as a former phosphate mine, which provides legal clarity about the land's history. The Department of Health is now required to conduct gamma radiation surveys on former phosphate mining parcels upon request from current landowners, with specific requirements for measurement density and reporting. In civil actions related to phosphate mining, plaintiffs must now include a detailed radiation survey prepared by a certified health physicist or radiation protection technologist, which must comprehensively document radiation levels, measurement locations, testing methodology, and the surveyor's qualifications. The bill provides legal defenses for landowners if certain conditions are met, such as recording a notice and completing a radiation survey, and defines a "former phosphate mine" as an area where phosphate mining has occurred and which has been subject to state reclamation requirements. These provisions aim to balance environmental protection, property rights, and the ongoing importance of phosphate mining to Florida's agricultural and economic landscape.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs, Justice

Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee (H)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/585