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SB7034 • 2026

Ratification of Rules of the Department of Environmental Protection

Ratification of Rules of the Department of Environmental Protection

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Environment and Natural Resources
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
Senate - Died on Calendar
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Ratification of Environmental Protection Rules

This bill ratifies a specific environmental protection rule for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs to meet legal requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Ratifies a rule about water flows in the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs.
  • Meets the requirement set by Florida law that rules with significant impacts must be ratified by the legislature.
  • Does not change any existing laws or regulations beyond ratifying this specific rule.
  • Requires noting the enactment of this act in official records like the Florida Administrative Code.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Environmental Protection
  • People and organizations affected by water flow rules for these rivers and springs

Terms To Know

ratification
Formally approving a rule or decision made by an agency.
rulemaking authority
The power given to agencies to create rules that have the force of law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only affects one specific environmental protection rule and does not change other laws or regulations.
  • It is unclear if this ratification will prevent any legal challenges against the rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 Senate

    • Died on Calendar

  2. 2026-03-12 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 884

  3. 2026-03-11 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 824

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 738

  5. 2026-03-09 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 704

  6. 2026-03-06 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar

  7. 2026-03-05 Senate

    • Retained on Special Order Calendar -SJ 621

  8. 2026-03-04 Senate

    • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26

  9. 2026-03-03 Senate

    • Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 21 NAYS 0

  10. 2026-02-26 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  11. 2026-02-25 Senate

    • Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 7 NAYS 0 • Now in Rules

  12. 2026-02-20 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, 02/25/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

  13. 2026-02-10 Senate

    • Introduced

  14. 2026-02-05 Senate

    • Referred to Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules

  15. 2026-02-04 Senate

    • Filed

  16. 2026-02-03 Senate

    • Submitted as Committee Bill and Reported Favorably by Environment and Natural Resources; YEAS 6 NAYS 1

  17. 2026-01-29 Senate

    • Submitted for consideration by Environment and Natural Resources • On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building

Official Summary Text

Ratification of Rules of the Department of Environmental Protection; Ratifying a specified rule relating to the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs minimum flows and recovery strategy for the sole and exclusive purpose of satisfying any condition on effectiveness pursuant to s. 120.541(3), F.S., which requires ratification of any rule exceeding the specified thresholds for likely adverse impact or increase in regulatory costs, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 7034

By
the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

592-02474-26 20267034__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to ratification of rules of the
3 Department of Environmental Protection; ratifying a
4 specified rule relating to the Lower Santa Fe and
5 Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs minimum flows
6 and recovery strategy for the sole and exclusive
7 purpose of satisfying any condition on effectiveness
8 pursuant to s. 120.541(3), F.S., which requires
9 ratification of any rule exceeding the specified
10 thresholds for likely adverse impact or increase in
11 regulatory costs; providing construction; providing an
12 effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1.
(1)

The following rule
is
ratified for the sole

17
and exclusive purpose of satisfying any condition on the

18
effectiveness imposed under s. 120.541(3), Florida Statutes:

19
Rule
62-42.300, Florida Administrative Code,
titled
“The Lower

20
Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs,” as filed

21
for adoption with the Department of State pursuant to the

22
certification package dated December 31, 2025.

23
(2)

This act serves no other purpose and may not be

24
codified in the Florida Statutes. After this act becomes a law,

25
its enactment and effective date
s
must be noted in the Florida

26
Administrative Code, the Florida Administrative Register, or

27
both, as appropriate. This act does not alter rulemaking

28
authority delegated by prior law, does not constitute

29
legislative preemption of or exception to any provision of law

30
governing adoption or enforcement of the rule cited, and is

31
intended to preserve the status of any cited rule as a rule

32
under chapter 120, Florida Statutes. This act does not cure any

33
rulemaking defect or preempt any challenge based on a lack of

34
authority or a violation of the legal requirements governing the

35
adoption of any rule cited.

36 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.