Florida 2026 Session Status: To Executive 1 R cosponsors

SB 848 — Stormwater Treatment

Last action — Chapter No. 2026-60

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 10, 2025. It awaits signature.

Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) on April 30, 2026.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 64% · moderate confidence
  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 8 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Stormwater Treatment; Prohibiting certain stormwater treatment and net improvement activities; defining the term “regional stormwater management system”; requiring that the Department of Environmental Protection or a water management district require an applicant to provide certain documentation of adequate financial responsibility in order to meet certain requirements; authorizing water quality enhancement credits to be used by governmental entities to meet environmental resource permit stormwater treatment performance standards or achieve net improvement, pursuant to specified provisions, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

591 added · 445 removed

591 line(s) added, 445 removed.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 By the Committees on Rules;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 By the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources;
and Environment and Natural Resources;
and Senator Truenow 592-01912-26 2026848c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to stormwater treatment;
and Senator Truenow 595-02933-26 2026848c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to stormwater treatment;
311.106, F.S.;
373.019, F.S.;
prohibiting certain stormwater treatment and net improvement activities;
defining the terms “compensating stormwater treatment” and “total land area”;
prohibiting certain water quality enhancement areas from conveying enhancement credits to provide stormwater treatment or achieve net improvement;
373.413, F.S.;
defining the term “regional stormwater management system”;
requiring that the Department of Environmental Protection or a water management district require an applicant to provide certain documentation of adequate financial responsibility in order to meet certain requirements;
providing requirements for such financial responsibility;
providing construction;
requiring an environmental resource permit authorizing a regional stormwater management system to establish and include a specified graphic depiction;
authorizing certain environmental resource permit applicants to purchase and use pollution reduction allocations from a regional stormwater management system to meet certain performance criteria;
requiring the department or water management district to use a specified identifier to establish the drainage area;
providing an exception;
amending s.
373.403, F.S.;
defining terms;
amending s.
deleting the definition of the term “enhancement credit”;
requiring compensating stormwater treatment to comply with certain provisions unless certain circumstances exist;
authorizing water quality enhancement credits to be used by governmental Page 1 of 14 CODING:
authorizing entities to apply for a water quality enhancement area provisional permit under certain circumstances;
Words stricken are deletions;
requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to issue such provisional permit if certain criteria are met;
words underlined are additions.
requiring the department to allow the use of enhancement credits from a water quality enhancement area established under a provisional permit;
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 entities to meet environmental resource permit stormwater treatment performance standards or achieve net improvement, pursuant to specified provisions;
requiring a water management district issuing an environmental resource permit to certain applicants to allow such applicants to use enhancement credits under certain circumstances;
providing that the use of enhancement credits from a water quality enhancement area constitutes compensating stormwater treatment under the environmental resource permitting program;
authorizing the department to modify a water quality enhancement area provisional permit after the adoption of certain rules;
prohibiting the term “credit” from being used to refer to pollutant reduction under certain circumstances;
requiring the department to adopt rules by a specified date;
requiring the department to take certain action pending the adoption of certain rules;
requiring the department to issue a provisional permit under certain circumstances;
authorizing enhancement credits to be used from certain water quality enhancement areas;
providing construction;
authorizing the department to modify permits after the adoption of rules;
making technical changes;
authorizing mitigation Page 1 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 measures or enhancement credits intended to address certain impacts to be generated by third parties and sold and transferred to environmental resource permit applicants pursuant to specified provisions;
requiring, beginning on a specified date, that public landowners direct private entities to cease certain activities upon a certain determination by the department;
providing applicability;
authorizing a public landowner to allow a private entity to resume compensatory stormwater treatment activities on public lands upon a certain final agency action determination by the department or final determination of a water management district;
amending ss.
Show all 273 changed rows (233 more)
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373.036, 373.250, 373.421, 403.813, and 556.102, F.S.;
conforming cross- references;
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 311.106, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
Present subsections (4) through (21) and (22) through (28) of section 373.019, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5) through (22) and (24) through (30), respectively, and new subsections (4) and (23) are added to that section, to read:
311.106 Seaport stormwater permitting and mitigation.— (1) A seaport listed in s.
373.019 Definitions.—When appearing in this chapter or in any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, the Page 2 of 19 CODING:
403.021(9)(b) is authorized to provide for onsite or offsite stormwater treatment for water quality impacts caused by a proposed port activity that requires a permit and that causes or contributes to pollution from stormwater runoff.
Offsite stormwater treatment may occur outside of the established boundaries of the port, but must be within the same drainage basin in which the port activity occurs.
A port offsite stormwater treatment project must be constructed and maintained by the seaport or by the seaport in conjunction with an adjacent local government.
In order to limit stormwater treatment from individual parcels within a port, a seaport may provide for a regional stormwater treatment facility that must be constructed and maintained by the seaport or by the seaport in conjunction with an adjacent local government.
(2) For a proposed port activity with water quality impacts that causes or contributes to pollution from stormwater runoff from a seaport not listed in s.
403.021(9)(b), a regional stormwater management system, as defined in Rule 62-330, Florida Administrative Code, operated by a non-local governmental entity independently or under contract with a seaport or local government, may not provide stormwater treatment or achieve net improvement under s.
373.414(1)(b)3.
For a proposed port activity with water quality impacts that causes or contributes Page 3 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 to pollution from stormwater runoff from a seaport not listed in s.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 term:
403.021(9)(b), a water quality enhancement area as defined in s.
(4) “Compensating stormwater treatment” means a method of stormwater treatment for discharges from more than two parcels, implemented in accordance with the conditions established in s.
373.4134 and operated by a non-local governmental entity independently or under contract with a seaport or local government may not convey enhancement credits to provide stormwater treatment or achieve net improvement under s.
373.4134.
373.414(1)(b)3.
(23) “Total land area” means land holdings under common ownership which are contiguous, or land holdings served by common surface water management facilities.
Subsection (7) is added to section 373.413, Florida Statutes, to read:
Present paragraphs (d) through (g) of subsection (3) of section 373.4134, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (e) through (h), respectively, a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and paragraph (e) of subsection (1) and subsection (9) of that section are amended, to read:
373.413 Permits for construction or alteration.— (7) REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.— (a) A “regional stormwater management system” is a method of compensating stormwater treatment that creates pollution reduction allocations and is designed, constructed, operated and maintained to collect, convey, store, absorb, inhibit, treat, or harvest stormwater to prevent or reduce flooding, overdrainage, environmental degradation and water pollution or otherwise affect the quantity and quality of discharges within the drainage area served by the regional system which is the land or development that is served by or contributes stormwater to the regional system.
373.4134 Water quality enhancement areas.— (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds that:
(b) As part of meeting the requirement to demonstrate that an applicant for an environmental resource permit for a regional stormwater management system has the financial, legal, and administrative capability of ensuring such regional stormwater management system will be undertaken according to the terms and conditions of an issued permit, the department or a water management district shall require such applicant to provide documentation of adequate financial responsibility.
(e) Water quality enhancement areas that provide water quality enhancement credits to applicants seeking permits under ss.
This Page 4 of 14 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 financial responsibility may consist of performance bonds, letters of credit, insurance policies, trust agreements, or similar, ensuring completion of construction;
the amount of which shall be based on cost estimates of completing the construction;
and an endowment or other long-term financial assurance mechanism sufficient to ensure operation and maintenance for the entire period the regional stormwater management system is anticipated to be relied upon to provide stormwater treatment, attenuation, or regulatory pollutant load reduction allocations, the amount of which shall be based on cost estimates of such long-term operation and maintenance.
The cost estimates and associated financial responsibility mechanisms shall be updated every five years to reflect current costs.
This section shall not be construed to impose additional financial responsibility requirements on stormwater management systems that are not regional stormwater management systems.
(c) An environmental resource permit authorizing a regional stormwater management system shall establish and include a graphic depicting the drainage area to be served by such system.
Environmental resource permit applicants located within the drainage area may purchase and use pollution reduction allocations from a regional stormwater management system to meet stormwater treatment performance criteria.
The department or water management district shall use Hydrologic Unit Code 12 (HUC 12) subbasin as set forth by the United States Geological Survey to establish the drainage area, unless the regional stormwater management system applicant provides justification demonstrating the proposed off-site area outside of the HUC 12 would provide the same degree of compensating treatment for a common Page 5 of 14 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 downstream receiving waterbody without causing or contributing to any localized adverse impact to any downstream waters, through water quality monitoring, modeling, or a combination thereof.
Section 3.
Subsections (23), (24), and (25) are added to section 373.403, Florida Statutes, to read:
373.403 Definitions.—When appearing in this part or in any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, the following terms mean:
(23) “Compensating stormwater treatment” means a method of stormwater treatment for discharges from multiple parcels.
(24) “Enhancement credit” means a standard unit of measure that represents a quantity of pollutant removed by a water quality enhancement area.
(25) “Pollutant reduction allocation” means a standard unit of measure that represents a quantity of pollutant removed by a regional stormwater management system for purposes of providing compensating stormwater treatment under the environmental resource permitting program.
Section 4.
Present paragraphs (d) through (g) of subsection (3) of section 373.4134, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (e) through (h), respectively, a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and paragraph (e) of subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection (2), paragraph (b) of subsection (3), paragraph (e) of subsection (7), and subsection (9) of that section are amended, to read:
373.4134 Water quality enhancement areas.— (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.— The Legislature finds that:
Page 6 of 14 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 (e) Water quality enhancement areas that provide water quality enhancement credits to applicants seeking permits under ss.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
The transfer of legal responsibility for complying with applicable regulatory water quality treatment requirements does not occur outside of the use of enhancement credits.
(b) “Enhancement credit” means a standard unit of measure that represents a quantity of pollutant removed.
Page 3 of 19 CODING:
(3) WATER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AREAS.— (b) Water quality enhancement credits may be sold to and used by governmental entities seeking to meet an assigned basin management action plan allocation or reasonable assurance plan or to permit applicants to meet environmental resource permit stormwater treatment performance standards or to achieve for the purpose of achieving net improvement or meeting environmental resource permit performance standards under s.
373.414(1)(b)3.
after reasonable assurances have been provided for the design and construction of all onsite stormwater management, as required by law.
(d) The use of enhancement credits from a water quality enhancement area constitutes compensating stormwater treatment under the environmental resource permitting program.
(7) ENHANCEMENT CREDITS.— (e) Reductions in pollutant loading required under any Page 7 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 state regulatory program are not eligible to be considered as enhancement credits.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 (3) WATER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AREAS.— (d) Compensating stormwater treatment must comply with this section unless:
In addition, the term “credit” shall not be used to refer to pollutant reduction achieved though compensating stormwater treatment to meet environmental resource permitting stormwater performance standards or as a mitigation measure to achieve net improvement under s.
1.
373.414(1)(b)3.
The treatment and discharging parcels are owned, operated, and maintained by the same entity;
outside of enhancement credits generated from a water quality enhancement area.
or 2.
(9) RULES.—The department shall adopt rules to implement this section which shall be filed for adoption no later than October 1, 2026.
The area providing compensating stormwater treatment receives stormwater discharge directly from parcels within the total land area and treats the discharge before such discharge flows off the parcel on which the compensating stormwater treatment occurs.
This section may not be implemented until the department adopts such rules.
(9) RULES.—The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.
Pending the adoption of rules to implement this section, the department shall accept, review and take final agency action on applications for water quality enhancement area provisional permits.
Pending the adoption of rules to implement this section, entities may apply for a water quality enhancement area provisional permit.
The department shall issue a water quality enhancement provisional permit in response to a submitted application if the applicant provides reasonable assurance of meeting the statutory criteria in this section.
The department must issue a water quality enhancement area provisional permit in response to such application if the applicant meets the statutory criteria of this section.
Enhancement credits may be used from a water quality enhancement area established under a provisional permit as provided in this section subject to compliance with s.
The department shall allow the use of such enhancement credits from a water quality enhancement area established under a provisional permit as provided in this section and subject to compliance with s.
373.4134 and the terms of the provisional permit.
373.4134.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, the department or a water management district reviewing an environmental resource permit application that seeks to satisfy stormwater treatment performance standards or achieve net improvement under s.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule, a water management district issuing an environmental resource permit to applicants seeking to satisfy environmental resource permit performance standards must allow such applicants to use enhancement credits if the department has issued a provisional permit for the water quality enhancement area from which the enhancement credits are generated.
373.414(1)(b)3.
After the department adopts rules to implement this section, the department may modify an issued water quality enhancement area provisional permit to Page 4 of 19 CODING:
shall allow the use of enhancement credits from a water quality enhancement area with a provisional permit pursuant to the terms of such provisional permit.
After the department adopts rules to Page 8 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 implement this section, the department may modify a water quality enhancement area provisional permit to conform such permit to such rules.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 conform such permit to such adopted rules.
Any enhancement credits used from a water quality enhancement area established under a provisional permit shall continue to be recognized by the department and water management districts without change regardless of whether the provisional permit is subsequently modified to conform to the adopted rules.
Any enhancement credit used from a water quality enhancement area established pursuant to a provisional permit must continue to be recognized by the department and water management districts without change, regardless of whether the provisional permit is subsequently modified to conform to the adopted This section may not be implemented until the department adopts such rules.
Section 5.
Section 3.
(b) If the applicant is unable to otherwise meet the criteria set forth in this subsection, the governing board or the department, in deciding to grant or deny a permit, must Page 9 of 14 CODING:
(b) If the applicant is unable to otherwise meet the criteria set forth in this subsection, the governing board or the department, in deciding to grant or deny a permit, must consider measures proposed by or acceptable to the applicant to Page 5 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 consider measures proposed by or acceptable to the applicant to mitigate adverse effects that may be caused by the regulated activity.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 mitigate adverse effects that may be caused by the regulated activity.
The full cost shall include all direct and indirect costs, as applicable, such as those for land Page 10 of 14 CODING:
The full cost shall include all direct and indirect costs, as applicable, such as those for land acquisition, land restoration or enhancement, perpetual land Page 6 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 acquisition, land restoration or enhancement, perpetual land management, and general overhead consisting of costs such as staff time, building, and vehicles.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 management, and general overhead consisting of costs such as staff time, building, and vehicles.
373.4135(6), must address, as applicable, success criteria, Page 11 of 14 CODING:
373.4135(6), must address, as applicable, success criteria, project implementation status and timeframe, monitoring, long- Page 7 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 project implementation status and timeframe, monitoring, long- term management, provisions for preservation, and full cost accounting.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 term management, provisions for preservation, and full cost accounting.
If the applicant is unable to meet water quality standards because existing ambient water quality does not meet standards, the governing board or the department must consider mitigation measures, such as compensating stormwater treatment as defined in s.
If the applicant is unable to meet water quality standards because existing ambient water quality does not meet standards, the governing board or the department must consider mitigation measures, such as compensating stormwater treatment, proposed by or acceptable to the applicant that cause net improvement of the water quality in the receiving body of water for those parameters which do not meet standards.
373.403(23), proposed by or acceptable to the applicant that cause net improvement of the water quality in the receiving body of water for those parameters which do not meet standards.
Mitigation measures or enhancement credits intended to address water quality impacts regulated under ss.
373.403–373.443 may be generated by third parties and sold and transferred to environmental resource permit applicants only as authorized under s.
373.4134.
Beginning July 1, 2026, if a public landowner authorizes or enters into an agreement with a private entity to construct, modify, or operate stormwater management systems or other features on public lands so that the private entity can provide offsite compensatory treatment for third-party water quality impacts or stormwater discharge, and if the department or a water management district employing the criteria in paragraph (a) determines by final agency action that the use of such public lands for such compensatory stormwater treatment is contrary to the public interest, the public landowner must direct the private entity to cease operation of the offsite compensatory treatment activities identified in the final order of the department or water management district.
The requirement to cease such activities does not apply to other compensatory treatment activities governed by the agreement between the Page 8 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 public landowner and the private entity which are not covered by the final order of the department or water management district.
The public landowner may allow the private entity to resume such compensatory stormwater treatment activities on such public lands upon a subsequent final agency action determination by the department or final determination of a water management district that the use of such public lands for such compensatory treatment is no longer contrary to the public interest under the criteria of paragraph (a).
5.
Section 4.
Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 373.036, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
373.036 Florida water plan;
district water management plans.— (1) FLORIDA WATER PLAN.—In cooperation with the water management districts, regional water supply authorities, and others, the department shall develop the Florida water plan.
The Florida water plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(d) Goals, objectives, and guidance for the development and review of programs, rules, and plans relating to water resources, based on statutory policies and directives.
The state Page 9 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 water policy rule, renamed the water resource implementation rule pursuant to s.
373.019(27) s.
373.019(25), shall serve as this part of the plan.
Amendments or additions to this part of the Florida water plan shall be adopted by the department as part of the water resource implementation rule.
In accordance with s.
373.114, the department shall review rules of the water management districts for consistency with this rule.
Amendments to the water resource implementation rule must be adopted by the secretary of the department and be submitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within 7 days after publication in the Florida Administrative Register.
Amendments do shall not become effective until the conclusion of the next regular session of the Legislature following their adoption.
Section 5.
Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 373.250, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
373.250 Reuse of reclaimed water.— (5)(a) No later than October 1, 2012, the department shall initiate rulemaking to adopt revisions to the water resource implementation rule, as defined in s.
373.019(27) s.
373.019(25), which shall include:
1.
Criteria for the use of a proposed impact offset derived from the use of reclaimed water when a water management district evaluates an application for a consumptive use permit.
As used in this subparagraph, the term “impact offset” means the use of reclaimed water to reduce or eliminate a harmful impact that has occurred or would otherwise occur as a result of other surface water or groundwater withdrawals.
2.
Criteria for the use of substitution credits where a Page 10 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 water management district has adopted rules establishing withdrawal limits from a specified water resource within a defined geographic area.
As used in this subparagraph, the term “substitution credit” means the use of reclaimed water to replace all or a portion of an existing permitted use of resource-limited surface water or groundwater, allowing a different user or use to initiate a withdrawal or increase its withdrawal from the same resource-limited surface water or groundwater source provided that the withdrawal creates no net adverse impact on the limited water resource or creates a net positive impact if required by water management district rule as part of a strategy to protect or recover a water resource.
For the purpose of incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 373.414, Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section 373.4136, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
Subsection (1) of section 373.421, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
373.4136 Establishment and operation of mitigation banks.— (6) MITIGATION SERVICE AREA.—The department or water management district shall establish a mitigation service area for each mitigation bank permit.
373.421 Delineation methods;
The department or water management district shall notify and consider comments received Page 12 of 14 CODING:
formal determinations.— (1) The Environmental Regulation Commission shall adopt a unified statewide methodology for the delineation of the extent of wetlands as defined in s.
373.019(29) s.
373.019(27).
This methodology shall consider regional differences in the types of soils and vegetation that may serve as indicators of the extent of wetlands.
This methodology shall also include provisions for determining the extent of surface waters other than wetlands for the purposes of regulation under s.
373.414.
This methodology does shall not become effective until ratified by the Legislature.
Subsequent to legislative ratification, the wetland definition in s.
373.019(29) s.
373.019(27) and the adopted wetland methodology shall be binding on the department, the water management districts, local governments, and any other governmental entities.
Upon ratification of such wetland Page 11 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 on the proposed mitigation service area from each local government within the proposed mitigation service area.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 methodology, the Legislature preempts the authority of any water management district, state or regional agency, or local government to define wetlands or develop a delineation methodology to implement the definition and determines that the exclusive definition and delineation methodology for wetlands shall be that established pursuant to s.
373.019(29) s.
373.019(27) and this section.
Upon such legislative ratification, any existing wetlands definition or wetland delineation methodology shall be superseded by the wetland definition and delineation methodology established pursuant to this chapter.
Subsequent to legislative ratification, a delineation of the extent of a surface water or wetland by the department or a water management district, pursuant to a formal determination under subsection (2), or pursuant to a permit issued under this part in which the delineation was field- verified by the permitting agency and specifically approved in the permit, shall be binding on all other governmental entities for the duration of the formal determination or permit.
All existing rules and methodologies of the department, the water management districts, and local governments, regarding surface water or wetland definition and delineation shall remain in full force and effect until the common methodology rule becomes effective.
However, this may shall not be construed to limit any power of the department, the water management districts, and local governments to amend or adopt a surface water or wetland definition or delineation methodology until the common methodology rule becomes effective.
Section 7.
Paragraphs (r) and (u) of subsection (1) of section 403.813, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
Page 12 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 403.813 Permits issued at district centers;
exceptions.— (1) A permit is not required under this chapter, chapter 373, chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, or chapter 25214 or chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of Florida, and a local government may not require a person claiming this exception to provide further department verification, for activities associated with the following types of projects;
however, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, this subsection does not relieve an applicant from any requirement to obtain permission to use or occupy lands owned by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or a water management district in its governmental or proprietary capacity or from complying with applicable local pollution control programs authorized under this chapter or other requirements of county and municipal governments:
(r) The removal of aquatic plants, the removal of tussocks, the associated replanting of indigenous aquatic plants, and the associated removal from lakes of organic detrital material when such planting or removal is performed and authorized by permit or exemption granted under s.
369.20 or s.
369.25, provided that:
1.
Organic detrital material that exists on the surface of natural mineral substrate shall be allowed to be removed to a depth of 3 feet or to the natural mineral substrate, whichever is less;
2.
All material removed pursuant to this paragraph shall be placed on a self-contained, upland spoil site which will prevent the escape of the spoil material into waters in the state except when spoil material is permitted to be used to create wildlife Page 13 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 islands in freshwater bodies of the state when a governmental entity is permitted pursuant to s.
369.20 to create such islands as a part of a restoration or enhancement project;
3.
All activities are performed in a manner consistent with state water quality standards;
and 4.
Activities under this exemption are not conducted in wetland areas, as defined in s.
373.019(29) s.
373.019(27), which are supported by a natural soil as shown in applicable United States Department of Agriculture county soil surveys, except when a governmental entity is permitted pursuant to s.
369.20 to conduct such activities as a part of a restoration or enhancement project.
The department may not adopt implementing rules for this paragraph, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(u) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this subsection, a permit or other authorization under chapter 253, chapter 369, chapter 373, or this chapter is not required for an individual residential property owner for the removal of organic detrital material from freshwater rivers or lakes that have a natural sand or rocky substrate and that are not aquatic preserves or for the associated removal and replanting of aquatic vegetation for the purpose of environmental enhancement, providing that:
1.
No activities under this exemption are conducted in wetland areas, as defined in s.
373.019(29) s.
373.019(27), which are supported by a natural soil as shown in applicable United States Department of Agriculture county soil surveys.
2.
No filling or peat mining is allowed.
Page 14 of 19 CODING:
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words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 3.
No removal of native wetland trees, including, but not limited to, ash, bay, cypress, gum, maple, or tupelo, occurs.
4.
When removing organic detrital material, no portion of the underlying natural mineral substrate or rocky substrate is removed.
5.
Removed organic detrital material and plant material is placed on an upland spoil site which will not cause water quality violations.
6.
All activities are conducted in such a manner, and with appropriate turbidity controls, so as to prevent any water quality violations outside the immediate work area.
7.
Replanting with a variety of aquatic plants native to the state shall occur in a minimum of 25 percent of the preexisting vegetated areas where organic detrital material is removed, except for areas where the material is removed to bare rocky substrate;
however, an area may be maintained clear of vegetation as an access corridor.
The access corridor width may not exceed 50 percent of the property owner’s frontage or 50 feet, whichever is less, and may be a sufficient length waterward to create a corridor to allow access for a boat or swimmer to reach open water.
Replanting must be at a minimum density of 2 feet on center and be completed within 90 days after removal of existing aquatic vegetation, except that under dewatered conditions replanting must be completed within 90 days after reflooding.
The area to be replanted must extend waterward from the ordinary high water line to a point where normal water depth would be 3 feet or the preexisting vegetation line, whichever is less.
Individuals are required to make a reasonable effort to maintain planting density for a period of 6 months Page 15 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 after replanting is complete, and the plants, including naturally recruited native aquatic plants, must be allowed to expand and fill in the revegetation area.
Native aquatic plants to be used for revegetation must be salvaged from the enhancement project site or obtained from an aquatic plant nursery regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Plants that are not native to the state may not be used for replanting.
8.
No activity occurs any farther than 100 feet waterward of the ordinary high water line, and all activities must be designed and conducted in a manner that will not unreasonably restrict or infringe upon the riparian rights of adjacent upland riparian owners.
9.
The person seeking this exemption notifies the applicable department district office in writing at least 30 days before commencing work and allows the department to conduct a preconstruction site inspection.
Notice must include an organic-detrital-material removal and disposal plan and, if applicable, a vegetation-removal and revegetation plan.
10.
The department is provided written certification of compliance with the terms and conditions of this paragraph within 30 days after completion of any activity occurring under this exemption.
Section 8.
Subsection (6) of section 556.102, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
556.102 Definitions.—As used in this act:
(6) “Excavate” or “excavation” means any manmade cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth’s surface, formed by removal of earth, intended to change the grade or level of land, Page 16 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 or intended to penetrate or disturb the surface of the earth, including land beneath the waters of the state, as defined in s.
373.019(24) s.
373.019(22), and the term includes pipe bursting and directional drilling or boring from one point to another point beneath the surface of the earth, or other trenchless technologies.
Section 9.
For the purpose of incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 373.414, Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section 373.4136, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
373.4136 Establishment and operation of mitigation banks.— (6) MITIGATION SERVICE AREA.—The department or water management district shall establish a mitigation service area for each mitigation bank permit.
The department or water management district shall notify and consider comments received on the proposed mitigation service area from each local government within the proposed mitigation service area.
373.414(1)(b) and (8) are met and an insufficient number or type of credits from banks whose permitted service area overlays in whole or in part the regional watershed in which the impacts occur, the permit applicant is entitled to a one-time use of credits released from a mitigation bank outside the mitigation bank service area to offset impacts pursuant to s.
373.414(1)(b) and (8) are met and an insufficient number or type of credits from banks whose permitted service area overlays in whole or in part the regional watershed in which the impacts occur, the permit applicant is Page 17 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 entitled to a one-time use of credits released from a mitigation bank outside the mitigation bank service area to offset impacts pursuant to s.
In implementing this subsection, the department and water Page 13 of 14 CODING:
In implementing this subsection, the department and water management districts shall apply a proximity factor to determine adequate compensatory mitigation as follows:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 848 595-02933-26 2026848c2 management districts shall apply a proximity factor to determine adequate compensatory mitigation as follows:
A 1.2 multiplier shall be applied for use of in-kind and out-of-service-area credits located within a regional watershed immediately adjacent to the regional watershed overlain by a bank service area in which proposed impacts are located only after credit deficiency has been established by the procedure set forth in paragraph (f).
A 1.2 multiplier shall be applied for use of in-kind and out-of-service-area credits located within a regional watershed immediately adjacent to the regional watershed overlain by a bank service area in which proposed impacts are located only after credit deficiency has been established by the procedure Page 18 of 19 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 848 592-01912-26 2026848c1 set forth in paragraph (f).
Section 7.
Section 10.
Page 14 of 14 CODING:
Page 19 of 19 CODING:
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Action History

  1. Chapter No. 2026-60

  2. Approved by Governor

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  4. Ordered enrolled

  5. CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Added to Third Reading Calendar

  8. Read 2nd time

  9. 1st Reading (Engrossed 1)

  10. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)

  11. Bill referred to House Calendar

  12. In Messages

  13. Immediately certified -SJ 463

  14. CS passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 460

  15. Read 3rd time -SJ 460

  16. Amendment(s) adopted (598430) -SJ 460

  17. Read 2nd time -SJ 458

  18. Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/26/26

  19. CS/CS by Rules read 1st time

  20. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  21. Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  22. CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0

  23. On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/17/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  24. Now in Rules

  25. Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

  26. On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 02/10/26, 3:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

  27. Now in Community Affairs

  28. CS by Environment and Natural Resources read 1st time

  29. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  30. Introduced

  31. CS by Environment and Natural Resources; YEAS 7 NAYS 0

  32. On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 01/13/26, 1:30 pm, 110 Senate Building

  33. Referred to Environment and Natural Resources; Community Affairs; Rules

  34. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (163)

163 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 163 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 8002
Republican 26001
Unaffiliated 1000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 36003
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Smith — Yea
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Not Voting
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Not Voting
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Albritton, Ben Republican Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Not Voting
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Massullo, Ralph E., Jr. Republican Yea
Mayfield, Debbie Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage, Third Reading

Passed 112 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 81002
Democrat 30003
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 112005
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (117)
Member Party Vote
Tomkow — Yea
Alvarez, Jose Democrat Yea
Antone, Bruce Hadley Democrat Not Voting
Aristide, Wallace Democrat Yea
Bartleman, Robin Democrat Yea
Campbell, Daryl Democrat Yea
Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat Yea
Cross, Lindsay Democrat Yea
Daley, Dan Democrat Yea
Daniels, Kimberly Democrat Yea
Driskell, Fentrice Democrat Yea
Dunkley, Lisa Democrat Yea
Edmonds, Jervonte "Tae" Democrat Yea
Eskamani, Dr. Anna V. Democrat Yea
Franklin II, Gallop Democrat Yea
Gantt, Ashley Viola Democrat Yea
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Yea
Harris, Jennifer "Rita" Democrat Yea
Hart-Lowman, Dianne "Ms Dee" Democrat Yea
Hinson, Yvonne Hayes Democrat Yea
Hunschofsky, Christine Democrat Yea
Joseph, Dotie Democrat Not Voting
Long, Rob Democrat Yea
López, Johanna Democrat Yea
Nixon, Angela "Angie" Democrat Yea
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Robinson, Felicia Simone Democrat Yea
Rosenwald, Mitch Democrat Yea
Skidmore, Kelly Democrat Yea
Spencer, Leonard Democrat Yea
Tant, Allison Democrat Yea
Tendrich, Debra Democrat Not Voting
Woodson, Marie Paule Democrat Yea
Young, RaShon Democrat Yea
Abbott, Shane G. Republican Yea
Albert, Jon Republican Yea
Alvarez, Daniel Antonio "Danny" Republican Yea
Anderson, Adam Republican Yea
Andrade, Robert Alexander "Alex" Republican Yea
Baker, Jessica Republican Yea
Bankson, Douglas Michael "Doug" Republican Yea
Barnaby, Webster Republican Yea
Basabe, Fabián Republican Yea
Benarroch, Yvette Republican Yea
Berfield, Kimberly Republican Yea
Black, Dean Republican Yea
Blanco, Omar Republican Yea
Booth, Erika Republican Yea
Borrero, David Republican Yea
Botana, Adam Republican Yea
Boyles, Nathan Republican Yea
Brackett, Robert A. "Robbie" Republican Yea
Brannan III, Robert Charles "Chuck" Republican Yea
Buchanan, James Republican Yea
Busatta, Demi Republican Yea
Canady, Jennifer Republican Yea
Cassel, Hillary Republican Yea
Chamberlin, Ryan Republican Yea
Chaney, Linda Republican Yea
Cobb, Nan Republican Yea
Conerly, William "Bill" Republican Yea
Duggan, Wyman Republican Yea
Esposito, Tiffany Republican Yea
Fabricio, Tom Republican Yea
Garrison, Sam Republican Yea
Gentry, Richard Republican Yea
Gerwig, Anne Republican Yea
Giallombardo, Mike Republican Yea
Gonzalez Pittman, Karen Republican Yea
Gossett-Seidman, Peggy Republican Yea
Greco, Sam Republican Yea
Griffitts Jr., Philip Wayne "Griff" Republican Yea
Grow, J.J. Republican Yea
Hodgers, Brian Republican Yea
Holcomb, Jeff Republican Yea
Jacques, Berny Republican Yea
Johnson, Chad Republican Yea
Kendall, Kim Republican Yea
Kincart Jonsson, Jennifer Republican Yea
Koster, Traci Republican Yea
LaMarca, Chip Republican Yea
Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" Republican Yea
Maney, Patt Republican Yea
McClure, Lawrence Republican Yea
McFarland, Fiona Republican Yea
Melo, Lauren Republican Yea
Michael, Kiyan Republican Yea
Miller, Monique Republican Yea
Mooney Jr., James Vernon "Jim" Republican Yea
Nix Jr., Danny Republican Yea
Oliver, Vanessa Republican Yea
Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" Republican Yea
Owen, Michael Republican Yea
Partington, Bill Republican Yea
Perez, Daniel Republican Yea
Persons-Mulicka, Jenna Republican Yea
Plakon, Rachel Saunders Republican Yea
Plasencia, Susan Republican Not Voting
Porras, Juan Carlos Republican Yea
Redondo, Mike Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Robinson Jr., William Cloud "Will" Republican Yea
Salzman, Michelle Republican Yea
Sapp, Judson Republican Yea
Shoaf, Jason Republican Yea
Sirois, Tyler I. Republican Yea
Smith, David Republican Yea
Snyder, John Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Steele, Kevin M. Republican Yea
Trabulsy, Dana Republican Not Voting
Tramont, Chase Republican Yea
Tuck, Kaylee Republican Yea
Valdés, Susan L. Republican Yea
Weinberger, Meg Republican Yea
Yarkosky, Taylor Michael Republican Yea
Yeager, Bradford Troy "Brad" Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 8002
Republican 27001
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 36003
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Bernard, Mack Democrat Yea
Bracy Davis, LaVon Democrat Not Voting
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Sharief, Barbara Democrat Not Voting
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Albritton, Ben Republican Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Yea
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Gruters, Joe Republican Not Voting
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Massullo, Ralph E., Jr. Republican Yea
Mayfield, Debbie Republican Yea
McClain, Stan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Smith, David Republican Yea
Truenow, Keith L. Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea
Yarborough, Clay Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 23 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 17001
Democrat 5000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Total 23001
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (24)
Member Party Vote
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Davis, Tracie Democrat Yea
Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Boyd, Jim Republican Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Burton, Colleen Republican Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Gaetz, Don Republican Not Voting
Garcia, Ileana Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Yea
Hooper, Ed Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Passidomo, Kathleen Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Simon, Corey Republican Yea
Trumbull, Jay Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea
Wright, Tom A. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2000
Republican 5001
Total 7001
% of votes cast 88%0%0%13%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Arrington, Kristen Aston Democrat Yea
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
DiCeglie, Nick Republican Yea
Harrell, Gayle Republican Not Voting
Mayfield, Debbie Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Ana Maria Republican Yea
Smith, David Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 848 do?
Stormwater Treatment; Prohibiting certain stormwater treatment and net improvement activities; defining the term “regional stormwater management system”; requiring that the Department of Environmental Protection or a water management district require an applicant to provide certain documentation of adequate financial responsibility in order to meet certain requirements; authorizing water quality enhancement credits to be used by governmental entities to meet environmental resource permit stormwater treatment performance standards or achieve net improvement, pursuant to specified provisions, etc.
Who sponsors SB 848?
SB 848 is sponsored by Truenow, Keith L. (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 848?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 10, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 848?
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