Members of a Senate committee said Wednesday they want state wildlife officials to explain at their next committee meeting why they are considering requiring deer hunters to report their kills. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider the reporting requirement when it meets next month in Apalachicola, said Tim Breault, director of the […]
Senators warn wildlife officials on hunting requirement Read More »
A House panel on Wednesday passed three bills that are intended to address a court ruling that threw out 2009 legislation that revamped the state’s growth management laws. SB 360 in 2009 removed a requirement that developers pay for new roads and schools in designated areas and it removed state oversight of large developments in
House panel approves growth rewrite to address court ruling Read More »
With the Public Service Commission next week holding hearings on revised charges for Florida Power & Light Co. customers, a Senate bill would eliminate a 2006 state law that allows utilities to charge for new nuclear plants even if they are never built. SB 200 by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, would repeal a
Florida senator files bill targeting nuclear fees Read More »
The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida says it wants to help Florida develop a strategic plan as suggested by Gov. Rick Scott. Scott in November told the Florida Council of 100 that the state “lacks a sufficiently focused strategic plan,” according to a copy of a prepared speech. The Century Commission for a Sustainable
Century Commission says it should develop Florida strategic plan Read More »
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday allowed a bill to become law that delays a statewide inspection requirement for septic tanks. The inspection requirement was in SB 550, which then-Gov. Charlie Crist signed in June with support that included the Sierra Club Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association. Supporters said the requirement would protect public
Septic tanks inspection delay becomes law without signature Read More »
A bill introduced by the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee would ban the state from implementing new federal water quality criteria that were adopted in November. Utilities, industries and agricultural groups say the numeric standards will cost billions of dollars to comply with. But an attorney representing environmental groups says
Bill would prevent Florida from implementing federal water standards Read More »
The chairman of the new House Select Committee on Water Policy said Thursday that the state’s “local sources first” policy that discourages water pipelines will be reviewed along with the role of water-management districts. But she also said doing away with districts in favor of a statewide water agency would be “crazy.” One of the
House panel may reconsider firey water issue Read More »
Three growth management bills that are intended to address a judge’s ruling last summer passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday. In August, Circuit Judge Charles Francis in Tallahassee ruled that the 2009 growth management overhaul in SB 360 was unconstitutional because they represented an unfunded mandate for cities and counties and because the
Growth management legislation clears first committee Read More »
A bill that would delay implementation of a statewide septic tank inspection requirement was presented Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott — after agency rule-making already had been halted. A Senate spokesman declined to say whether the Legislature had delayed sending the bill to avoid a veto by then-Gov. Charlie Crist. He signed SB 550 in
Septic tank delay bill goes to Gov. Rick Scott Read More »
The new chairman of the Senate’s environmental committee has introduced a bill that would repeal a new requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years. The inspection requirement in SB 550 earlier this year was promoted by supporters as a springs protection measure. But legislators voted during the special session on Nov. 16 to
New Senate environmental chairman wants to repeal septic tank inspections Read More »
