2026 Legislative Priorities

Our advocacy priorities for Florida’s 2026 legislative session delivered a meaningful step forward for the state’s environment and communities. Lawmakers advanced a coordinated set of policies focused on protecting natural lands, strengthening coastal resilience, and improving water quality. At their core, these efforts emphasize greater transparency in how public lands are managed, increased investment in nature-based solutions, and a more proactive approach to emerging environmental threats. Taken together, these bills have the potential to improve day-to-day quality of life—protecting public health, reducing environmental risks, and helping stabilize or even lower property insurance costs by minimizing damage from flooding, storms, and other hazards.

Florida’s Nature Resiliency initiative (HB 1035, aligned with SB 302) lays the groundwork for using natural systems—like wetlands, mangroves, and living shorelines—to better protect coastal communities. Instead of relying solely on seawalls and other hard infrastructure, the state is prioritizing solutions that work with nature to absorb floodwaters, reduce erosion, and buffer storm impacts. This reduces development costs and upkeep costs. The policy also strengthens protections for sensitive ecosystems, including aquatic preserves, and places limits on certain dredging activities.

Status: Enacted through SB 302 and signed into law (March 2026).

The Conservation Lands bill (HB 441) is rooted in a simple but important idea: Floridians should have a voice in what happens to their public lands. In response to concerns over proposed land swaps, the legislation requires at least 30 days’ public notice before any sale, exchange, or major change in use of conservation lands. It also ensures transparency by requiring clear disclosure of property details, appraisals, and the reasoning behind decisions. With strong bipartisan support, the bill is widely seen as a safeguard to prevent the quiet loss or misuse of protected lands and to keep the public informed and involved.

Status: Passed the legislature and sent for enactment (February–March 2026); expected to be signed and implemented.

Florida’s Forever Chemicals/ PFAS legislation (HB 1019), often referred to as the “Florida PFAS Act” or “Joe Casello Act,” takes direct aim at harmful “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and pose risks to human health. The law phases out PFAS-containing firefighting foam over several years—starting with restrictions on training use in 2026, followed by bans on sale and distribution in 2027, and leading to a near-total ban by 2029 with limited exceptions. It also requires regular monitoring of PFAS in wastewater and biosolids, helping the state better understand where contamination exists and how to address it. Backed by unanimous legislative support, this bill represents a major step toward protecting both public health and Florida’s water systems.

Status: Passed unanimously; takes effect July 1, 2026.

Last updated March 2026