HB 981 — Tributaries of the St. Johns River

F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 981 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to tributaries of the St.

creating the Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory CouncilCouncil; by a specified date;

specifying requirements for the Pageadvisory 1report; of 8 CODING:

providing for Page 1 of 8 CODING:

hb981-02-c2hb981-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 981 2026 advisoryfuture report;repeal;

providing for future repeal;

requiring the department to develop a develop grant program for a specified purpose;

PageSection 21. of 8 CODING:

This act may be cited as the "Northeast Florida Page 2 of 8 CODING:

hb981-02-c2hb981-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 981 2026 Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act." Section 1.2.

This act may be cited as the "Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act." Section 2.

The project plan shallmust be designedconsistent towith restore the Ocklawahapartial Riverrestoration hydrologyplan anddescribed floodplainin function to the approximate2001 conditionsFinal thatEnvironmental existedImpact priorStatement toprepared by the constructionUnited States Department of Agriculture Forest Service for the Crossdepartment's FloridaOcklawaha BargeRiver CanalRestoration projectProject, andas itsdescribed associatedin projectthe works,department's including,Joint butApplication notfor limitedEnvironmental to,Resource thePermit Kirkpatrickand DamFederal Dredge and BuckmanFill Lock.Permit, dated November 24, 1997.

The project plan shallmust beinclude basedengineering onand the restoration design andupdates, stepsincluding settopographic forthand inbathymetric thesurveys, department'sand pending Joint Application for Environmental Page 3 of 8 CODING:

hb981-02-c2hb981-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 981 2026 Resourceprecise andestimates Federalof Dredgematerial andto Fillbe Permit.dredged or excavated.

TheIn addition, the project plan must incorporateprovide bestrecommendations availablefor scienceroad and includebridge engineeringconstruction andthat designis updates,compatible includingwith topographicthe andpartial bathymetricrestoration surveys,plan and preciseensures estimatescontinued ofaccess materialfor tothe becommunities dredgedwest orof excavated.the project.

In addition, the project plan must provide recommendations for road and bridge construction that is compatible with the restoration plan and ensures continued access for the communities west of the project.

(b) Notwithstanding any law or rule, the project plan for the restoration of the Ocklawaha River is an environmental restoration or enhancement project subject to a general permit from the department and water management districts for environmental restoration or enhancement pursuant to rule 62- 330.405, FloridaF.A.C., Administrative Code, and rule 62-330.485, FloridaF.A.C. Administrative Code.

The Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and PageEconomic 4Development ofAdvisory 8Council, CODING:an advisory council as defined in s.

20.03(7), is established and assigned to the department.

The council shall be administratively housed within the department.

The project lead shall serve as the council chair, and the members shall meet at the call of the project Page 4 of 8 CODING:

hb981-02-c2hb981-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 981 2026 Economiclead. Development Advisory Council, an advisory council as defined in s.

20.03(7), shall be established by October 31, 2026.

The council shall be assigned to and administratively housed within the department.

The project lead shall serve as the council chair, and the members shall meet at the call of the project lead.

Page(VI) 5One representative of 8the CODING:Department of Commerce.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb981-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 981 2026 (VI) One representative of the Department of Commerce.

Six members of the council shall be appointed by the boardsPage 5 of county8 commissionersCODING: for the following counties:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb981-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 981 2026 boards of county commissioners for the following counties:

Recommendations to the Department of Commerce for the Pagecreation 6 of 8guidelines CODING:to administer the economic development program created in subsection (6).

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb981-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 981 2026 creation of guidelines to administer the economic development program created in subsection (6).

(c)Page Repeal.—In6 accordanceof with8 s.CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.