Here’s how Florida’s environmental laws will change this year:

Whether it’s contaminated waterways or clearing out habitat losses for Florida’s most vulnerable species, there’s an increasing list of environmental issues facing Florida’s latest elected leaders.

Legislators led by the majority Republican House and Senate arrived in Tallahassee this week for the 2025 legislative meeting. There, potential environmental laws and annual funding will be analyzed, discussed and tweaked over the next 60 days.

Will politicians enrich stronger land conservation in response to the management of Governor Ron Desantis, who is looking to build hotels and golf courses in state parks?

What are lawmakers doing to make the coastline more resilient after a string of hurricanes?

And how do leaders spend their time? Would you discuss conspiracy over measures like the US Gulf and weather changes, or how to come up with ways to make the public better informed about pollution and reforms of groups to keep utilities accountable?

The Tampa Bay Times has gathered the following list of proposed environmental laws to watch:

State Park Protection

Title: State Land Management or “State Park Preservation Act”

The bill would prohibit the construction of amenities in state parks for “conservation-based” outdoor recreational activities such as canoeing, cycling and hiking. The measure will ban Parkland’s building hotels and golf courses and increase public transparency regarding proposed changes to state parks. The measure comes after the Times revealed that the DeSantis administration proposed development of nine state parks, prompting bipartisan anger and protest that forced the government to abandon the plan. The nonprofit is urging bill sponsors to expand protections to the state’s forests and wildlife management areas.

Use nature for more coastal resilience

Title: Nature-based methods to improve coastal resilience

After the Tampa Bay Area was surrounded by hurricanes for 13 days apart, the measure should develop ways to improve coastline storm resilience, such as replanting mangrove trees and strengthening bull reefs. The bill requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to research and adopt new rules for these green methods.

Mining company lawsuit protection?

Title: Former phosphate mining land

The measure provides legal protection to mining companies such as the Tampa-based Fortune 500 Mosaic Co. and provides exceptions to the law aimed at keeping the industry accountable for pollution. Environmental groups like Friends of the Everglades argue that the measure protects mining companies such as Mosaic from lawsuits. Mosaic has hired several lobbyists to work on the bill, recording rents and asking for rent, reported it was an investigative journalism site, and reported that the mining giant also donated to Senate sponsors before introducing the measure.

Keeping Florida in a loop with shit

Title: Safe Waterways Act

With this measure, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be responsible for testing bacterial contamination waterways on behalf of the state Department of Health. Last year, Desantis rejected a similar version of the bill, saying it was flawed as it received unanimous approval and was given to health officials to close beaches, waterways and pools in the state. His veto sparked dissatisfaction from environmental advocacy groups.

Plastics first?

Title: Regulations for auxiliary containers

The bill would prevent local governments from regulating reusable cups, cans, cans, bottles, and more, and prevent that power from being put into the hands of state governments. A similar bill failed last year. Nonprofits defending Florida waters and Springs, including Florida Springs Council, said the measure would lead to more plastic pollution across state parks and other already flooded waterways.

Utility companies have little profit

Title: Public Service Commission

The proposal hampers the company’s ability to gain high rates of return as Florida’s biggest utility benefits from bills paid by Floridians. Regulators will need to “work to maintain” the shareholder interests of each utility, similar to the rates earned by the 10-year Treasury memo. The bill adds two members to the five Florida Public Service Commission that regulates utilities. They also need to disclose how much executives a utility company will create.

“Utilities are government-created monopolies,” Sen. Don Goetz, the bill sponsor, recently told the Tampa Bay Times. “It’s not our business how much money a Publix president makes, but it’s our business how much money a Utilities president makes.

Changes to the state water manager?

Title: Water Management District

The measure will provide lawmakers with the ability to better examine projects by water management districts across Florida, including the possibility of using state funds to reject proposed water projects. The bill would require South Florida water managers to work with regulators to tally the estimated remaining costs to complete the Everglades repair, among other progress updates. The Senate Speaker’s office says the law will increase transparency.

Drones, guns, fluoride

Position: Agriculture and Consumer Services Department

The sweeping “farm bill,” defended by agricultural commissioner Wilton Simpson, prohibits drones from flying farming and land classified as “on or near or near private property, or with intent to harassment.” The proposal also prohibits what the bill language calls “water system additives” that are not for public health purposes. Although not mentioned by name, the bill could move to add fluoride to Florida’s drinking water supply. The wide range of bills also speed up the hidden weapons license application process.

Carbon Task Force

Title: Carbon Isolation

This law creates a carbon sequestration task force. Members will submit reports to the governor and legislature to recommend natural areas where carbon sequestration is appropriate. This practice refers to the long-term storage of carbon in plants, oceans and other natural habitats, blocking greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

“Others would call it a conspiracy theory.”

Title: Geo Engineering and Weather Correction Activities

The law prohibits the use of chemicals to change the weather in your state. The bill came in one month after the unfounded theory that the government created Hurricane Milton was born on social media. Some of the measures in the law would include repealing state laws that allow authorized weather changes, banning site inspections and adding a $100,000 fine for practice. Sen. Ileana Garcia of R-Miami said at a committee meeting in February that she had not applied for permission to change weather in more than a decade.

“Some people call it a concern, others call it a conspiracy theory,” Garcia said at the meeting. “But I thought maybe this bill could start where we could start separating facts from fiction.”

At the same meeting, Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D. Orlando, said the bill had no research and was worried about using environmental resources to investigate claims.

“American Bay” sweeps Congress

Title: Designation of the US Gulf

President Donald Trump’s declaration of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the US Gulf caused chaos between the government and private institutions. Two laws introduced by Republicans in the House and Senate are trying to solidify their names in Florida vocabulary.

One law involves more than 50 people (more than 50) in the Gulf of Mexico trying to change to the US Gulf of Florida law.

Title: America Gulf

Other laws require updated maps to reflect the name change, along with materials from new schools that use the Switch. We will also rename Rech 41 from Tampa to Miami, from Tamami Trail to America Trail Bay.

More resilient and more tax credits

Title: A resilient building

Buildings with one of several leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificates are eligible for tax credits. Lawmakers will create Florida’s Resilient Building Advisory Committee to provide state recommendations on improving building resilience and hardening against hurricanes.

“Trooper Law”

Title: Abandoning animals that were suppressed during natural disasters

The law, known as the “troopers’ law,” came in after it was found connected to a fence along Tampa’s Interstate 75 just hours before Hurricane Milton’s landing. The Bull Terrier was rescued by Florida Highway Patrol troopers and was later renamed the Trooper. The bill would be a three-degree felony that could leave animals outside-controlled during a natural disaster and fines up to $10,000.