summary
Introduced
01/05/2026
01/05/2026
In Committee
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to tributaries of the St. Johns River; providing a short title; creating s. 373.464, F.S.; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection, by a specified date, to hire a project lead to oversee the implementation of the act; requiring that the project lead have certain expertise; requiring the department to develop, by a specified date, a project plan for the restoration of the Ocklawaha River; specifying requirements for the project plan; providing that the project plan is an environmental restoration or enhancement project subject to a general permit from the department and water management districts; requiring the department to complete the project plan by a specified date, subject to the provision of funds; providing for the creation of the Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council by a specified date; assigning the council to the Department of Environmental Protection; providing that the project lead is the chair of the council; providing for council membership, meetings, and duties; requiring the council to submit an advisory report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the department by a specified date; specifying requirements for the advisory report; providing for future repeal; requiring the department to develop an outdoor recreation plan, in collaboration with certain commissions, councils, and local governments of river communities; specifying requirements for the outdoor recreation plan; requiring the department to implement the plan by a specified date; requiring the department to complete projects on state-owned lands in the outdoor recreation plan by a specified date, subject to certain funding; requiring the department to develop a grant program for a specified purpose; requiring that the grant program be compatible with certain plans; requiring the department to implement the grant program by a specified date; requiring the Department of Commerce to develop guidelines and processes for and implement an economic development program for Marion and Putnam Counties for a specified purpose by a specified date; requiring that the economic development plan be compatible with certain plans and programs; requiring the Department of Commerce to implement the economic development program by a specified date; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act," mandates the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hire a project lead by August 31, 2026, with expertise in conservation and recreation planning, to oversee the implementation of the act. The DEP must then develop a comprehensive project plan by July 1, 2027, for the restoration of the Ocklawaha River, aiming to restore its natural flow and floodplain function, which includes measures like breaching the Kirkpatrick Dam and decommissioning the Buckman Lock, and this plan will be considered an environmental restoration project eligible for a general permit. Concurrently, a Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council will be established by October 31, 2026, with the project lead serving as its chair, to provide recommendations on recreation projects, grant programs, and economic development initiatives, and this council is set to repeal on October 2, 2029. The DEP is also required to develop and implement an outdoor recreation plan by January 1, 2028, in collaboration with various entities, to enhance river and springs access for recreational activities, and to complete related projects on state-owned lands by December 31, 2035, subject to funding. Furthermore, the DEP will establish a grant program by February 1, 2028, to assist river communities in implementing the outdoor recreation plan, and the Department of Commerce will develop and implement an economic development program for Marion and Putnam Counties by January 1, 2028, to foster job creation and economic growth, with all programs and plans needing to be compatible with each other.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (3)
Appropriations (Senate), Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Senate), Environment and Natural Resources (Senate)
Last Action
Retained on Calendar (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
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