By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM I wrote a piece on the status of major environmental bills at the midpoint in the legislative session on April 4. But I didn’t get around to posting it. And that’s OK, because most of it had changed just seven days later. 1. SPRINGS LEGISLATION Sen. Charlie Dean said on April […]
Bills are dying — is springs legislation next? Read More »
By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com What a difference a week makes — when it comes to Everglades legislation. On March 7, after an Everglades bill was rolled out in a House committee, Rep. Matt Caldwell said there was no “go-fast” approach. Environmentalists who opposed HB 7065 said they had only seen the bill language less than
Legislature Week Two: Everglades at warp speed Read More »
The head of the new department that will house Florida’s growth management division says he’ll have to decide future growth management decisions on a case-by-case basis. SB 2156, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on June 14, abolishes the Florida Department of Community Affairs and transfers its planning division to a new Department of
Future of state growth management in question under new department Read More »
An employee enters the Department of Community Affairs headquarters where more than 20 workers were told last week they’re being laid off. With some state planners being handed their pink slips this week, the question arises over what really happened to the debate over the fate of Florida’s growth management agency — the Department of
Florida growth agency “boogeyman” disappearing without debate Read More »
The Florida legislative session went off track early Saturday, taking several bills with it that were supported by business and industry groups and opposed by environmentalists. But environmentalists were not in a celebratory mood as the Legislature passed bills gutting state growth management and placing the burden of proof on those who file legal challenges
Session could have been worse but it was still bad, environmentalists say Read More »
Growth management, fertilizer and septic tanks are some of the environmental issues awaiting action by the Legislature on Friday, its final scheduled day of the regular session. Renewable energy, permitting and growth management were the big three issues heading into the session. There also was an outcry from some rural residents against last year’s requirement
Final day of session: Energy dead but growth overhaul, septic bills very much alive Read More »
With the Legislative session more than half over, some environmentalists are saying the session already has been bad enough. But at least one veteran environmental lobbyist says the worst could be yet to come. The Legislature is showing little interest in providing new money for the Florida Forever land-buying program while at the same time
Florida environmentalists uneasy as legislative session enters second half Read More »
During a recent Cabinet meeting, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater summed up an important debate over growth management policy by relating it to the rapidly expanding Five Guys hamburger chain. Some Bay County residents had asked the Cabinet to deny a request for a proposed 174-slip commercial marina on Callaway Bayou. The residents said the
Developers would determine “need” under proposed growth law rewrite Read More »
Some environmentalists are asking the Legislature to take a closer look at a local bill for Walton County that could allow sea walls to remain in place without state permits. Following extensive beach erosion caused by Hurricane Dennis in 2005, Walton County authorized the construction of between 250 and 275 sea walls along 26 miles
Walton County bill raises statewide concerns for sea turtles Read More »
Environmental groups, which have become accustomed to playing defense in the Legislature for many years, are digging in for what could be an even tougher fight this year. The legislative session starts on Tuesday, March 8. There are bills filed to streamline environmental permitting, repeal a statewide septic tank inspection requirement and prohibit local governments
Environmental groups digging in for tough legislative session Read More »
