House Passes Massive Water Bill -- Little Left but the Shouting

Submitted by Nancy Smith on January 14, 2016 - 6:40pm

The Florida House completed its part of legislation to protect Florida's natural resources Thursday, substituting its HB 7005 for SB 552, the bill the Senate approved Wednesday.

Rep. Matt Caldwell, bill sponsor

House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, offered three amendments, all of which failed in voice votes. In debate, Pafford said he thinks the bill favors agriculture. He said 20 million people need a sustainable water supply.

The House voted 110-2 to approve the bill, with only Pafford and Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, opposed.

“In passing the comprehensive water bill, we will modernize our existing water policies and use responsible, science-based solutions to tackle water-quality and water-supply challenges across Florida,” said bill sponsor Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers. “This bill represents years of development and input from stakeholders on every side of this issue. A comprehensive approach to water will result in our ability to protect our state’s most precious resource from crisis.”

Temperince Morgan, executive director of The Nature Conservancy, released the following statement after the House vote:

“The Florida Legislature has shown its commitment to addressing Florida’s water challenges by passing a water bill that includes some significant positive changes to statewide water policy. Throughout the past three years, The Nature Conservancy has worked with several members on this legislation and we appreciate the inclusion of provisions by the Legislature, to ensure that projects which produce water for the environment and for people are planned for concurrently.

"These changes will benefit Florida’s natural systems and provide water for Florida’s present and future economic growth and development. We encourage the Legislature to provide enhanced funding to enable the vigorous implementation of measures for springs protection, and water quality and quantity improvements that will benefit natural systems and people.”

The bill was certified to the Senate after the vote.

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