2026 Legislative Session
The 2026 Legislative Session is underway. To stay connected follow our social media for action alerts and updates and join our mailing list. These are some of the bills that Floridians Advancing Florida’s Outdoors is focused on:
OPPOSE SB 354/ HB 299
Pro Development/ Circumvents Public Input
This bill establishes Blue Ribbon Projects aka large-scale developments covering at least 10,000 contiguous acres under a single owner. The bill proposes allowing state preemption over local land-use regulations in exchange for developers designating at least 60% of the project area for conservation, among other requirements. This bill is promoted as pro-conservation, yet it removes the local approval process, including citizen input. For the latest info on the bill click here.
Note: This bill is being touted as pro-conservation when it is being presented in committees.
SUPPORT SB 441/ 546
Protects Conservation Lands
This bill requires justification to surplus (sell) state conservation lands as well as provide 30-day notice of meetings of the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) or the cabinet when land sales or swaps are being considered. This will help prevent the short notices that were provided for the Florida State Park development plans and the Guana Land Swap. For the latest info on the bill click here.
OPPOSE SB 1658/ HB 1421
Conservation Land at Risk
This bill requires state land managers to allow cattle grazing on state conservation land if their management plans allow for it. The current form of the bill could be abused to allow widespread cattle grazing on state forests, parks, water management districts, and other lands. This is not a natural use of conservation land and could result in the removal of recreational access as well. For the latest info on the bill click here.
SUPPORT SB 240/ 575
Positive Impact to Florida’s Environment
This bill keeps existing auxiliary container (single-use containers, plastics, etc) regulation laws in place and requires the DEP to establish a uniform ordinance to help control the single-use containers that can be adopted by local governments. This bill also allows the DEP to prohibit the use and sale of single-use containers on conservation lands. For the latest info on the bill click here.
Note: This bill is being heavily lobbied on by retail and other industries that want to prevent the regulation of single-use plastics/containers.
SUPPORT SB 1066/ HB 981
Benefits a Florida State Park
This bill begins the process to restore the Ocklawaha River. The Ocklawaha currently has a dam (that doesn’t generate electricity) left over from the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal. The dam blocks access to manatees and other aquatic life from migrating up the river and causes other environmental harm. SB 1066 directs the DEP to establish a restoration plan for the river and establishes an economic/recreation advisory council. For the latest info on the bill click here.
OPPOSE SB 766/HB 629
Harms Florida’s Environment
Regulation of Auxiliary Containers
This bill eliminates all laws and rules that regulate single-use containers in the State of Florida. This removes valuable ordinances that help keep our beaches, springs, and waters clean. For the latest info on the bill click here.
Note: This bill is being heavily lobbied on by retail and other industries that want to prevent the regulation of single-use plastics/containers.
