SB 7002 — Water Management Districts

providingrequiring construction;the South Florida Water Management District to include in its budget document certain sections that incorporate the actual amount of state revenues appropriated for the fiscal year;

requiring the South Florida Page 3 of 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 Water Management District to include in its budget document certain sections that incorporate the actual amount of state revenues appropriated for the fiscal year;

requiringproviding athe waterpurpose management district to consider certain factors for the purpose10-year ofconstruction thebond competitiveor bidcomparable selectionfinancial process;assurance mechanism;

providing requirements for the competitive selection process;

revisingproviding theapplicability; information that must be submitted by the department for each project;

requiring that each project included in such plan have a certain percentagepercent cost share unless the project was submitted by specifieda water managementPage districts;3 of 29 CODING:

specifying the composition of the total amount of funding for such plan;

restricting funding available to water management districts;

providing exceptions;

authorizing the department to issue certain loans by specified means to finance projects submitted by specified water management districts;

authorizing the Page 4 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb districtmanagement todistrict; borrow certain funds and to repay such funds;

providingspecifying requirementsthe forcomposition of the repaymenttotal amount of funding for such loan;plan;

requiring specified financing for projects submitted by a water management district for such plan;

restricting funding available to water management districts;

authorizing the department to issue certain loans by specified means to finance projects submitted by a water management district;

authorizing the district to borrow certain funds and pledge certain revenues to repay such funds;

providing for the repayment of such loan;

prohibiting additionalthe statedepartment loansfrom orissuing grantsadditional fromloans beingor issuedgrants to a water management district that defaults under the terms of its loan until the default is remedied;

requiring the department to adopt rules necessary to administer the revolving loan program;program to finance projects submitted by water management districts;

making a technical change;

requiring that a specified amount of funds deposited into the Indian Gaming Revenue ClearingPage Trust4 Fundof be29 distributedCODING: to the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the revolving loan program for specified uses;

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb Clearing Trust Fund be distributed to the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for the revolving loan program for specified uses;

reenacting s.

373.026(8)(d), F.S., relating to general powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection, to incorporate the amendment made to s.

373.536, F.S., in a reference thereto;

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 Section 1.

112.324.Page 5 of 29 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb 112.324.

Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section Page 6 of 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 373.026, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (d) of that subsection is reenacted, to read:

373.026 General powers and duties of the department.—The department, or its successor agency, shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter at the state level.

However, it is the policy of the state that, to the greatest extent possible, the department may enter into interagency or interlocal agreements with any other state agency, any water management district, or any local government conducting programs related to or materially affecting the water resources of the state.

All such agreements shall be subject to the provisions of s.

373.046.

In addition to its other powers and duties, the department shall, to the greatest extent possible:

(8) (b) To ensure to the greatest extent possible that project components will go forward as planned, the department shall collaborate with the South Florida Water Management District in implementing the comprehensive plan as defined in s.

373.470(2)(b), the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan as defined in s.

373.4595(2), and the River Watershed Protection Plans as defined in s.

373.4595(2).

Before any project component is submitted to Congress for authorization or receives an appropriation of state funds, the department must approve, or approve with amendments, each project component within 60 days following formal submittal of the project component to the department.

Prior to the release of state funds for the implementation of the comprehensive plan, department approval shall be based upon a determination of the South Florida Water Management District’s compliance with s.

373.1501(6) s.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 373.1501(5).

Once a project component is approved, the South Florida Water Management District shall provide to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a schedule for implementing the project component, the estimated total cost of the project component, any existing federal or nonfederal credits, the estimated remaining federal and nonfederal share of costs, and an estimate of the amount of state funds that will be needed to implement the project component.

All requests for an appropriation of state funds needed to implement the project component shall be submitted to the department, and such requests shall be included in the department’s annual request to the Governor.

Prior to the release of state funds for the implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Protection Plan or the River Watershed Protection Plans, on an annual basis, the South Florida Water Management District shall prepare an annual work plan as part of the consolidated annual report required in s.

373.036(7).

Upon a determination by the secretary of the annual work plan’s consistency with the goals and objectives of s.

373.4595, the secretary may approve the release of state funds.

Any modifications to the annual work plan shall be submitted to the secretary for review and approval.

(d) The Executive Office of the Governor, pursuant to its duties under s.

373.536(5) to approve or disapprove, in whole or in part, the budget of each water management district, shall review all proposed expenditures for project components in the district’s budget.

Section 3.

Subsection (1) of section 373.0693, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 373.0693 Basins;

basin boards.— (1)(a) Any areas within a district may be designated by the district governing board as subdistricts or basins.

The designations of such basins shall be made by the district governing board by resolutions thereof.

The governing board of the district may change the boundaries of such basins, or create new basins, by resolution.

(b) No subdistrict or basin in the St.

Johns River Water Management District other than established by this act shall become effective until approved by the Legislature.

Section 4.

Section 5.3.

PresentParagraph subsections(c) (4)of throughsubsection (10)(7) of section 373.1501, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5) Page 96 of 3429 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb through373.470, (11),Florida respectively,Statutes, ais newamended, and subsection (4)(8) is added to that section, and present subsection (9) of that section is amended, to read:

373.1501 South Florida Water Management District as local sponsor.— (4) The Legislature declares that acquiring land for water storage north of Lake Okeechobee is in the public interest, for a public purpose, and necessary for the public health and welfare.

The governing board of the district is authorized to acquire land, if necessary, to implement a reservoir project north of Lake Okeechobee with the goal of providing at least 200,000 acre-feet of water storage.

Any acquisition of real property for the purpose of a reservoir project constitutes a public purpose for which it is in the public interest to expend public funds.

Any land necessary for implementing the projects in this subsection may only be acquired in accordance with s.

373.139(2), and chapters 73 and 74.

The district and the state are not authorized to request the United States Army Corps of Engineers to acquire the lands for such reservoir project, and may not include any provision for such request in the project partnership agreement for such reservoir project.

(10)(9) Final agency action with regard to any project component subject to s.

373.026(8)(b) must shall be taken by the department.

Actions taken by the district pursuant to subsection (6) are (5) shall not be considered final agency action.

Any petition for formal proceedings filed pursuant to ss.

120.569 and 120.57 requires shall require a hearing under the summary hearing provisions of s.

120.574, which is shall be mandatory.

The final hearing under this section must shall be held within Page 10 of 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 30 days after receipt of the petition by the Division of Administrative Hearings.

Section 6.

Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of section 373.470, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and subsection (8) is added to that section, to read:

Construction phase, for which the performance indicators must include, but are not limited to:to, whether the project is on time and on budget based on a schedule performance index.

a.

If the project is on time and on budget based on a schedule performance index;

and b.

If the project had any claims, change orders, or credits upon closeout, including the description, date, and cost of the change, compensatory amounts, and the remedy or resolution Page 11 of 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 exercised as it pertains to the schedule or budget of the project.

Operational phase, for which the performance indicators must include, but are not limited to, whether the operationproject ofis operating in accordance with the projectdraft isoperating achievingmanual included in the goalsproject implementation report, and objectivesan identifiedexplanation inof any significant modification to the final project implementationoperating report.manual.

Pending projects phase, which includes project components that have not yet entered the planning or design phase.phase initiated after the effective date of this act or the date Page 7 of 29 CODING:

5.

The estimated expenditures for the project in the prior fiscal year compared to the actual expenditures, with an explanation for significant variances initiated after the effective date of this act or the date of the last report prepared under this subsection, whichever is later.

(d) For a project or project component developed pursuant to s.

255.065, the performance indicators in the report must be consistent with national industry standards for the delivery method.

The information required in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), and (d) shall be provided as part of the consolidated annual report required by s.

373.036(7).

Each annual report is due by March 1.

(8) INTEGRATED DELIVERY SCHEDULE.—The Legislature recognizes the value of the integrated delivery schedule as a forward-looking snapshot of upcoming planning, design, and construction schedules for the comprehensive plan and as a tool that provides information to decision-makers and facilitates achievement of the goals and purposes of the comprehensive plan at the earliest possible time to the extent practical given Page 12 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb funding,of engineering,the andlast otherreport contractualprepared constraints.under this subsection, whichever is later.

The Legislatureinformation furtherrequired recognizesin thatparagraphs the(a), schedule(b), acts as a planning document and does(c) notshall representbe aprovided budgetas orpart financial commitment on behalf of any of the participantsconsolidated ofannual thereport Southrequired Floridaby Ecosystems. Restoration Task Force.

Therefore,373.036(7). when making recommendations for any update to the schedule, state and local members of the task force must identify project funding sources to reflect whether funding will use recurring state funds provided pursuant to s.

375.041(3)(b)1.,Each 4.,annual andreport 5.,is ordue whetherby theMarch project1. may be funded with nonrecurring state funds.

Section(8) 7.INTEGRATED DELIVERY SCHEDULE.—In order to ensure accountability in the planning process, the integrated delivery schedule must be developed to maximize the achievement of the goals and purposes of the comprehensive plan at the earliest possible time to the extent practical given funding, engineering, and other contractual constraints.

Therefore, state and local members of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force may not include in their recommendations for any update to the integrated delivery schedule the assumption of a future availability of state funds per fiscal year above the amounts provided pursuant to s.

375.041(3)(b)1., 4., and 5.

Section 4.

Section 8.5.

The districts may, by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the governing board, levy ad valorem taxes on propertyPage within8 the district solely for the purposes of this29 chapterCODING: and of chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of Florida, as amended, and chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, as amended.

If appropriate, taxes levied by each governing board may be separated by the governing board into a millage necessary for the purposes of the district and a millage necessary for financing basin functions specified in s.

373.0695.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb 2.a.property within the district solely for the purposes of this chapter and of chapter 25270, 1949, Laws of Florida, as amended, and chapter 61-691, Laws of Florida, as amended.

If appropriate, taxes levied by each governing board may be separated by the governing board into a millage necessary for the purposes of the district and a millage necessary for financing basin functions specified in s.

373.0695.

2.a.

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “capital improvement projects” means projects related to water supply, including alternative water supply,supply water resource development, and water qualityresource development projects identified in the district’s regional water supply plans, water quality, flood protection and floodplain management, and natural systems.

Such millage levied may be up to an amount that, when combined with millage levied under subparagraph 1., does not exceed the maximum total millagePage rate9 underof paragraph29 (b).CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb millage rate under paragraph (b).

(b)(a) Notwithstanding any other general or special law, and subject to subsection (4), the maximum total millage rate for all district and basin purposes authorized under this Pagesection 14shall ofbe: 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 section shall be:

Section 9.6.

SubsectionsSubsection (1) and (3) of section 373.535, Florida Statutes, areis amended, and subsectionsubsections (2) and (3) of that section isare reenacted, to read:

373.535 Preliminary district budgets.— (1) BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.— (a) By January 15 of each year, each water management district shall submit a preliminary budget for the next fiscal year for legislative review to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of each legislative committee and subcommittee having substantive or fiscal jurisdiction over water management districts, as determined by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the Page 1510 of 3429 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb (a) By January 15 of each year, each water management district shall submit a preliminary budget for the next fiscal year for legislative review to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of each legislative committee and subcommittee having substantive or fiscal jurisdiction over water management districts, as determined by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as applicable, in the form and manner prescribed in s.

Current status, such as planning, construction, or operations.Page 11 of 29 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb operations.

Funding source,distribution, groupedbroken down by federal, state, andlocal, localor pursuantother. to s.

373.503(3)(a)1., local pursuant to s.

373.503(3)(a)2., or other.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 g.

The water supply analysis must specifically include a determination of the adequacy of each district’s fiscal resources provided in the district’s preliminary budget to achieve appropriate progress toward meeting the districtwide 20- year projected water supply demands, including funding for alternativePage water12 supplyof development29 andCODING: conservation projects.

(c)(b) If applicable, the preliminary budget for each district must specify that the district’s first obligation for payment is the debt service on bonds and certificates of participation.

(d) In addition to the information that must be included Page 17 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb foralternative projectswater carriedsupply outdevelopment pursuantand toconservation theprojects. capital improvement plan in subparagraph (b)3., the South Florida Water Management District must include a separate section in its preliminary budget for all projects within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

(c)(b) If applicable, the preliminary budget for each district must specify that the district’s first obligation for payment is the debt service on bonds and certificates of participation.

(d) In addition to the information that must be included for projects carried out pursuant to the capital improvement plan in subparagraph (b)3., the South Florida Water Management District must include a separate section in its preliminary budget for all projects within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

The total estimated cost of the project, delineatedbroken down by federal and nonfederal sponsor obligations.

The local sponsor obligations must be further delineatedbroken down by state and district obligations.

In estimating expenditures for the next fiscal year, the district may only incorporate state revenues only in an amount up to the amount of fundsPage specifically13 providedof in29 s.CODING:

375.041(3)(b)1., 4., and 5., unless the district commits district revenues on a dollar-for- dollar basis for any amount over such amount specifically provided.

(2) LEGISLATIVE REVIEW.— (a) The Legislature may annually review the preliminary Page 18 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb budgetfunds forspecifically eachprovided district, including, but not limited to, those items listed in s.

375.041(3)(b)1., 4., and 5., unless the district commits district revenues on a dollar-for- dollar basis for any amount over such amount specifically provided.

(2) LEGISLATIVE REVIEW.— (a) The Legislature may annually review the preliminary budget for each district, including, but not limited to, those items listed in s.

However,Section this7. subsection may not be construed to impair any contractual obligations.

Section 10.

373.536Page District14 budgetof and29 hearingCODING: thereon.— (5) TENTATIVE BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION;

REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— (c) The Legislative Budget Commission may reject any of the following district budget proposals unless specifically Page 19 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb appropriated373.536 byDistrict thebudget Legislature:and hearing thereon.— (5) TENTATIVE BUDGET CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION;

REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— (c) The Legislative Budget Commission may reject any of the following district budget proposals unless specifically appropriated by the Legislature:

Any individual project in the district’s 5-year capital improvement planplan. except for those projects fully funded with revenues approved by voters pursuant to s.

373.503(3)(a)2.b.

Any provision rejected by the Executive Office of the Governor or the LegislativePage Budget15 Commission may not be included in a district’s final budget and may not be acted upon through any other means without the prior approval of the29 entityCODING: rejecting the provision.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb (e)Legislative TheBudget tentativeCommission budgetmay mustnot be basedincluded onin thea preliminarydistrict’s final budget asand submittedmay tonot thebe Legislature,acted andupon asthrough mayany beother amendedmeans bywithout the districtprior inapproval responseof tothe reviewentity byrejecting the Legislatureprovision. pursuant to ss.

373.503(e) andThe 373.535,tentative asbudget themust basisbe forbased developingon the tentativepreliminary budget foras thesubmitted nextto fiscalthe yearLegislature, and as providedmay inbe thisamended subsection,by however,the thisdistrict subsectionin mayresponse notto bereview construedby tothe impairLegislature anypursuant contractualto obligations.ss.

The373.503 and 373.535, as the basis for developing the tentative budget for the next fiscal year as provided in this subsection, and must set forth the proposed expenditures of the district, to which may be added an amount to be held as reserve.

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The salaries and benefits, expenses, operating capital outlay, number of authorized positions, and other personal Page 21 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb services4. for the following program areas of the district:

The salaries and benefits, expenses, operating capital outlay, number of authorized positions, and other personal services for the following program areas of the district:

7.Page 17 of 29 CODING:

The funding sources, including, but not limited to, ad valorem taxes, Surface Water Improvement and Management Program Page 22 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb funds,7. other state funds, federal funds, and user fees and permit fees for each program area.

The funding sources, including, but not limited to, ad valorem taxes, Surface Water Improvement and Management Program funds, other state funds, federal funds, and user fees and permit fees for each program area.

Section 11.8.

(2) For contractual services for the design, engineering, or construction, or for any combination of the design, engineering, or construction of capital improvement projects withcosting a$1 total project cost estimated at $20 million or more, a water management district shall give preference to the lowest responsible and responsive bid, proposal, or reply that includes proofa of10-year district-definedconstruction acceptablebond minimumor workthat experienceprovides withinproof thisof state,a project-specificcomparable paymentfinancial andassurance performancemechanism, bondswhich inhas amountsbeen appropriatedefined forby thedistrict projectrule. contract amount, Page 23 of 34 CODING:

The purpose Page 18 of 29 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb andof minimumthe warranty10-year ofconstruction 2bond yearsor beginninga atcomparable substantialfinancial completion,assurance ormechanism thatis includesto proofensure ofthat athe comparablecapital financialimprovement assuranceproject mechanism,functions as definedit bywas districtdesigned rule.to function for at least 10 years.

(3) For the purpose of the competitive selection process in s.

287.055(4)287.055(4), orthe procurementagency proceduresshall consider whether a firm has included in s.its bid, proposal, or reply a 10-year construction bond or proof of a comparable financial assurance mechanism.

255.065(3),Section a9. water management district shall consider whether a bid, proposal, or reply includes appropriate payment and performance bonds, proof of a comparable financial assurance mechanism, as defined by district rule, or documentation of all bond faults or bond claims within the last 10 years, including all open and closed claims and agreed-upon amounts with a description of the claim and any resolution.

Section 12.

All eligible projects submitted Pageto 24the ofdepartment 34pursuant CODING:to this section must be ranked and included in the plan.

All eligible projects submitted by a water management district must be ranked on a separate list.

Each plan must include a detailed narrative overview describing how the plan was developed, including a description of the methodology Page 19 of 29 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb toused by the department pursuantto determine project eligibility, a description of the methodology used to thisrank sectionprojects, mustthe bespecific rankedscoring system used, the project proposal application form, a copy of each submitted project proposal application form separated by eligible projects and includedineligible inprojects, the plan.total number of project proposals received and deemed eligible, the total funding requested, and the total funding requested for eligible projects.

All eligible projects submitted by a water management district must be ranked on a separate list.

Each plan must include a detailed narrative overview describing how the plan was developed, including a description of the methodology used by the department to determine project eligibility, a description of the methodology used to rank projects, the specific scoring system used, the project proposal application form, a copy of each submitted project proposal application form separated by eligible projects and ineligible projects, the total number of project proposals received and deemed eligible, the total funding requested, and the total funding requested for eligible projects.

By September 1 of each year, all of the following entities may submit to the department a list of proposed projects that address risks of flooding or sea level rise identified in the comprehensive statewide flood vulnerability Pageand 25sea level rise assessment or vulnerability assessments that meet the requirements of 34subsection CODING:(3):

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 and sea level rise assessment or vulnerability assessments that meet the requirements of subsection (3):

189.012 which are responsiblePage for20 the management and maintenance of inlets29 andCODING: intracoastal waterways or for the operation and maintenance of a potable water facility, a wastewater facility, an airport, or a seaport facility.

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb responsible for the management and maintenance of inlets and intracoastal waterways or for the operation and maintenance of a potable water facility, a wastewater facility, an airport, or a seaport facility.

By September 1 of each year, all of the following entities may submit to the department a list of any proposed projects that address risks of flooding or sea level rise identified in the comprehensive statewide flood vulnerability Pageand 26sea level rise assessment or vulnerability assessments that meet the requirements of 34subsection CODING:(3), or that mitigate the risks of flooding or sea level rise on water supplies or water resources of the state and a corresponding evaluation of each project:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb anda. sea level rise assessment or vulnerability assessments that meet the requirements of subsection (3), or that mitigate the risks of flooding or sea level rise on water supplies or water resources of the state and a corresponding evaluation of each project:

a.

A municipality that has a population of 10,000 or less fewer, according to the most recent April 1 population estimates posted on the Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s Pagewebsite, 27and a per capita annual income that is less than the state’s per capita annual income as shown in the most recent release from the Bureau of 34the CODING:Census of the United States Department of Commerce that includes both measurements;

2.

A county that has a population of 50,000 or less fewer, Page 22 of 29 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb according to the most recent April 1 population estimates posted on the Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s website, and a per capita annual income that is less than the state’s per capita annual income as shown in the most recent release from the Bureau of the Census of the United States Department of Commerce that includes both measurements;

2.

A county that has a population of 50,000 or less fewer, according to the most recent April 1 population estimates posted on the Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s website, and a per capita annual income that is less than the state’s per capita annual income as shown in the most recent release from the Bureau of the Census of the United States Department of Commerce that includes both measurements;

The only funding available to water management districts under this subsection is through the loan program pursuant to paragraph (i),(i). except for the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the Suwanee River Water Management District, which may receive grants.

Multiyear projects that receive funding for the first year of the project must be included in subsequent plans and funded until the project is Pagecomplete, 28provided ofthat 34the CODING:project sponsor has complied with all contractual obligations and funds are available.

(i) To finance projects submitted by a water management district, the department may issue 20-year, interest-free loans through a promissory note or other form of written agreement evidencing an obligation to repay the borrowed funds to the department.

The district may borrow funds made available Page 23 of 29 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb complete,pursuant providedto thatthis thesection projectand sponsormay haspledge compliedany withrevenues allor contractualother obligationsadequate andsecurity fundsavailable areto available.it, other than state revenues, to repay any funds borrowed.

(i) To finance projects submitted by the St.

Johns River Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, or the South Florida Water Management District, the department may issue 20-year, interest-free loans through a promissory note or other form of written agreement evidencing an obligation to repay the borrowed funds to the department.

The district may borrow funds made available pursuant to this section.

Any revenues or other adequate security available to the district, other than state revenues, may be used to repay any funds borrowed.

Section 13.10.

Present subsection (3) of section 380.0935, PageFlorida 29Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), a new subsection (3) is added to that section, and subsection (2) of 34that CODING:section is amended, to read:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), a new subsection (3) is added to that section, and subsection (2) of that section is amended, to read:

The department may alsoPage use24 moneys deposited in the fund for administrative and operational costs of the29 FloridaCODING: Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation pursuant to s.

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb also use moneys deposited in the fund for administrative and operational costs of the Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation pursuant to s.

Section 14.11.

285.710, the PageDepartment 30of Revenue shall, upon receipt, deposit 96 percent of 34any CODING:revenue share payment received under the compact as defined in s.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 Department of Revenue shall, upon receipt, deposit 96 percent of any revenue share payment received under the compact as defined in s.

(c) The lesser of 26.042 percent or $100 million each fiscal year to the Resilient Florida Trust Fund within the Department of Environmental Protection for the revolving loan fund within the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan to be used to fund eligible projects submitted by water managementPage districts25 inof accordance29 withCODING: s.

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb management districts in accordance with s.

Section 15.12.

(1) For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sumssum of $236,665,971 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund and $64 million in recurring funds and $328,684,029 in nonrecurring funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund are appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection and must be distributed to the South Florida Water Management District for the planning, design, engineering, and construction of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and allocated in the following fixed capital outlay appropriation categories:

C-111 South Dade - $54,346,161.$69,473,191.

Indian River Lagoon South - $102,374,446.$65,905,639.

Central Everglades Planning Project South - $15$15,330,142. million.

Central Everglades Planning Project North – $47,771,823.$27,572,071.

Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project - Page$24,430,721. 31 of 34 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 $19,290,000.

BiscayneComprehensive BayEverglades CoastalRestoration WetlandsProject -Planning $7and million.Design - $8,197,918.

8.

Lake Okeechobee Component A Reservoir - $8,978,273.

9.

Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project Planning and Design - $6,148,979.

CaloosahatcheeIndian River C-43Lagoon WestSouth Basin Storage - $90$30,110,627. million.

CentralCaloosahatchee EvergladesRiver PlanningC-43 ProjectWest NorthBasin Storage - $104,608,177.$95,530,738.

Central Everglades Planning Project EAANorth Reservoir - $84,075,852.Page 26 of 29 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb $123,542,359.

4.

Central Everglades Planning Project EAA Reservoir - $79,500,305.

(2)Section The13. department is authorized to submit budget amendments to request the realignment of funds in subsection (1), pursuant to s.

216.292(4),For Floridathe Statutes,2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum $39,876,213 in recurring funds and subject$33,151,846 in nonrecurring funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund are appropriated to the approvalDepartment of Environmental Protection and must be used to implement the LegislativeNorthern BudgetEverglades Commission.and Estuaries Protection Program, pursuant to s.

Section 16.

For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $39,876,213 in recurring funds and $33,151,846 in nonrecurring funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection and must be used to implement the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, pursuant to s.

PageSection 3214. of 34 CODING:

WordsFor strickenthe 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $50 million in recurring funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund are deletions;appropriated in the Fixed Capital Outlay Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project ASR Wells appropriation category for Everglades Restoration.

wordsSection underlined15. are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7002 576-03229-25 20257002c1 Section 17.

For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $50 million in recurring funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund is appropriated to the South Florida Water Management District for the design, engineering, and construction of the specific project components designed to achieve the greatest reductions in harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St.

Lucie Estuaries as identified in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project Final Integrated Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement dated August 2020.

Section 18.

373.0695, notwithstandingPage the27 provisions of any29 otherCODING: general or special law to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of s.

373.503(3).

(1) The amount of money to be raised by said tax levy shall be determined by the adoption of an annual budget by the district board of governors, and the average millage for the basin shall be that amount required to raise the amount called for by the annual budget when applied to the total assessment of the basin as determined for county taxing purposes.

However, no Page 33 of 34 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7002 576-03229-25592-01930-25 20257002c120257002pb suchnotwithstanding tax shall be levied within the basinprovisions unlessof andany untilother thegeneral annualor budgetspecial andlaw requiredto tax levy shall have been approved by formal action of the basincontrary, board, and nosubject countyto in the districtprovisions shallof bes. taxed under this provision at a rate to exceed 1 mill.

373.503(3).

(1) The amount of money to be raised by said tax levy shall be determined by the adoption of an annual budget by the district board of governors, and the average millage for the basin shall be that amount required to raise the amount called for by the annual budget when applied to the total assessment of the basin as determined for county taxing purposes.

However, no such tax shall be levied within the basin unless and until the annual budget and required tax levy shall have been approved by formal action of the basin board, and no county in the district shall be taxed under this provision at a rate to exceed 1 mill.

Section 19.16.

For the purpose of incorporating the amendment Page 28 of 29 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7002 592-01930-25 20257002pb made by this act to section 373.536, Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of section 373.026, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

373.026 General powers and duties of the department.—The department, or its successor agency, shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter at the state level.

However, it is the policy of the state that, to the greatest extent possible, the department may enter into interagency or interlocal agreements with any other state agency, any water management district, or any local government conducting programs related to or materially affecting the water resources of the state.

All such agreements shall be subject to the provisions of s.

373.046.

In addition to its other powers and duties, the department shall, to the greatest extent possible:

(8) (d) The Executive Office of the Governor, pursuant to its duties under s.

373.536(5) to approve or disapprove, in whole or in part, the budget of each water management district, shall review all proposed expenditures for project components in the district’s budget.

Section 17.

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