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Florida’s Water Policy Remains Center Stage

Florida’s water policies continue to take center stage in Tallahassee and in board rooms and public meetings all around our state. Recognizing Governor DeSantis’ consistent and aggressive efforts to advance policies and funding to conserve and protect our water resources, the Florida Legislature continues to make significant investments and policy updates designed to meet the critical water quality and water quantity needs including historic investments in resiliency and infrastructure in the state.

While the Governor and Legislature continue to prioritize investments, the state’s continued growth creates new challenges to allocate, conserve and protect our water resources. Recent legislation directed state agencies to develop and update rules relating to potable reuse of reclaimed and recycled water in an effort to grow Florida’s overall water supply. The Army Corps of Engineers recently unveiled a new Lake Okeechobee Operation System Manual – setting the foundation for Everglades Restoration and water supply within the Lake Okeechobee watershed for many years to come.

New challenges and opportunities have entered the discussion as the Legislature passed a law and appropriated resources creating a framework for addressing Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). In addition, through policy revisions and significant new investment, the Legislature has prioritized the need for increased resiliency in both our coastal and interior regions of the state. Updated recommendations from the Blue-Green Algae Taskforce provide new guidance for investment in critical Florida watersheds. In addition, the state finalized new statewide stormwater rules which have the potential to significantly impact the cost and complexity of development permits.

Without question, water will continue to be a significant topic during the 2025 Legislative Session. Does Florida continue to confront its water resource challenges with bold measures? Recent budget surpluses and the new Seminole Compact have made it easier for the Legislature to provide robust funding for critical water initiatives, will this level of investment continue? How does the Legislature marry the policy and the funding for these critical water policy initiatives? How do these initiatives impact the state, your industry and your business?

Building on previous successes, the 2024 Florida Water Forum will provide an unmatched venue to interact with policy experts and legislators on the key water and environmental policy issues which impact Florida businesses.