| 15 | | - | An act relating to geoengineering and weather 2 |
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| 16 | | - | modification activities; repealing ss. 403.281, 3 |
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| 17 | | - | 403.291, 403.301, 403.311, 403.321, 403.331, 403.341, 4 |
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| 18 | | - | 403.351, 403.361, 403.371, 403.381, 403.391, and 5 |
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| 19 | | - | 403.401, F.S., relating to the definitions, purpose, 6 |
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| 20 | | - | licensing requirements, applications, proof of 7 |
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| 21 | | - | financial responsibility requirements, license 8 |
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| 22 | | - | issuance and discipline provisions, publication of 9 |
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| 23 | | - | notice of intention to operate requirements, required 10 |
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| 24 | | - | contents of the notice of intention, publication of 11 |
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| 25 | | - | the notice of intention requirements, proof of 12 |
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| 26 | | - | publication requirements, record and reports of 13 |
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| 27 | | - | operations requirements, provision of emergency 14 |
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| 28 | | - | licenses, and suspension or revocation of licenses, 15 |
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| 29 | | - | respectively, of the weather modification law; 16 |
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| 30 | | - | amending s. 403.411, F.S. ; prohibiting certain acts 17 |
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| 31 | | - | intended to affect the temperature, the weather, or 18 |
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| 32 | | - | the intensity of sunlight within the atmosphere of 19 |
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| 33 | | - | this state; increasing civil penalties for violations 20 |
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| 34 | | - | of the geoengineering and weather modification law; 21 |
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| 35 | | - | requiring that speci fied moneys be deposited in the 22 |
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| 36 | | - | Air Pollution Control Trust Fund and used only for 23 |
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| 37 | | - | specified purposes; authorizing a person who observes 24 |
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| 38 | | - | a geoengineering or weather modification activity to 25 |
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| 39 | | - | |
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| 40 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 42 | | - | |
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| 43 | | - | |
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| 44 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 45 | | - | hb477-02-c2 |
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| 46 | | - | Page 2 of 13 |
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| 47 | | - | 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 |
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| 48 | | - | |
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| 49 | | - | |
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| 50 | | - | |
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| 51 | | - | report such activity; providing construction; 26 |
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| 52 | | - | requiring the Depart ment of Environmental Protection 27 |
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| 53 | | - | to establish a method for the intake and screening of 28 |
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| 54 | | - | such reports; requiring the department to investigate 29 |
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| 55 | | - | certain reports; requiring the department to refer 30 |
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| 56 | | - | reports of observed violations to the Department of 31 |
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| 57 | | - | Health or the Division of Emergency Management, under 32 |
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| 58 | | - | certain circumstances; requiring the department to 33 |
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| 59 | | - | adopt rules; creating s. 403.4115, F.S.; defining 34 |
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| 60 | | - | terms; requiring an operator of public infrastructure 35 |
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| 61 | | - | to report certain information monthly to the 36 |
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| 62 | | - | Department of Transportation; prohibiting the 37 |
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| 63 | | - | department from expending funds to support certain 38 |
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| 64 | | - | projects or programs; requiring the department to 39 |
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| 65 | | - | submit a report to specified entities; requiring the 40 |
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| 66 | | - | department to incorporate reporting guidelines in 41 |
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| 67 | | - | certain grant agreem ents; authorizing the department 42 |
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| 68 | | - | to adopt rules; amending ss. 253.002, 373.026, 43 |
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| 69 | | - | 373.1501, 373.4598, and 373.470, F.S.; conforming 44 |
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| 70 | | - | cross-references and provisions to changes made by the 45 |
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| 71 | | - | act; making technical changes; providing an effective 46 |
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| 72 | | - | date. 47 |
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| 73 | | - | 48 |
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| 74 | | - | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 49 |
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| 75 | | - | 50 |
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| 76 | | - | |
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| 77 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 84 | | - | 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 |
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| 85 | | - | |
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| 86 | | - | |
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| 87 | | - | |
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| 88 | | - | Section 1. Sections 403.281, 403.291, 403.301, 403.311, 51 |
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| 89 | | - | 403.321, 403.331, 403.341, 403.351, 403.361, 403.371, 403.381, 52 |
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| 90 | | - | 403.391, and 403.401, Florida Statutes, are repealed. 53 |
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| 91 | | - | Section 2. Section 403 .411, Florida Statutes, is amended 54 |
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| 92 | | - | to read: 55 |
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| 93 | | - | 403.411 Geoengineering and weather modification activities 56 |
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| 94 | | - | prohibited; penalty.— 57 |
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| 95 | | - | (1) The injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, 58 |
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| 96 | | - | of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus 59 |
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| 97 | | - | into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the 60 |
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| 98 | | - | express purpose of affecting the temperature, weather, climate, 61 |
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| 99 | | - | or intensity of sunlight is prohibited. 62 |
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| 100 | | - | (2) Any person, including any public or private 63 |
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| 101 | | - | corporation, who conducts conducting a geoengineering or weather 64 |
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| 102 | | - | modification activity in violation of this section commits 65 |
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| 103 | | - | operation without first having procured a license, or who shall 66 |
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| 104 | | - | make a false statement in his or her application for license, or 67 |
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| 105 | | - | who shall fail to file any report or reports as r equired by this 68 |
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| 106 | | - | act, or who shall conduct any weather modification operation 69 |
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| 107 | | - | after revocation or suspension of his or her license, or who 70 |
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| 108 | | - | shall violate any other provision of this act, shall be guilty 71 |
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| 109 | | - | of a felony misdemeanor of the third second degree, punishable 72 |
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| 110 | | - | as provided in s. 775.082 and by a fine not exceeding $200,000; 73 |
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| 111 | | - | or s. 775.083; and, if a corporation, the officers, directors, 74 |
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| 112 | | - | or employees of the corporation commit shall be guilty of a 75 |
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| 113 | | - | |
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| 114 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 121 | | - | 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 |
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| 122 | | - | |
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| 123 | | - | |
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| 124 | | - | |
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| 125 | | - | felony misdemeanor of the third second degree, punishable by a 76 |
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| 126 | | - | fine not exceeding $200,000; and, if an aircraft operator or 77 |
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| 127 | | - | controller, such person commits a felony of the third degree, 78 |
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| 128 | | - | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 and by a fine not exceeding 79 |
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| 129 | | - | $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison as provided in s. 775.083 . 80 |
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| 130 | | - | Each such violation is shall be a separate offense. 81 |
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| 131 | | - | (3) All moneys collected pursuant to this section must be 82 |
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| 132 | | - | deposited in the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund and used only 83 |
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| 133 | | - | for purposes of air pollution control pursuant to this chapter. 84 |
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| 134 | | - | (4)(a) Any person who observes a geoengineering or weather 85 |
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| 135 | | - | modification activity conducted in violation of this section may 86 |
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| 136 | | - | report the observed violation to the department online or by 87 |
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| 137 | | - | telephone, mail, or e -mail. 88 |
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| 138 | | - | (b) The department shall establish an e -mail address and 89 |
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| 139 | | - | an online form for persons to report observed violations 90 |
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| 140 | | - | pursuant to this subsection. The department shall make the e -91 |
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| 141 | | - | mail address and online form publicly accessible on its website. 92 |
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| 142 | | - | (c) The department shall establish a method for intake and 93 |
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| 143 | | - | screening of the reports made pursuant to this subsection. The 94 |
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| 144 | | - | department shall investigate any report that warrants further 95 |
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| 145 | | - | review to determine whether there are violations of this 96 |
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| 146 | | - | section. 97 |
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| 147 | | - | (d) The department shall refer reports of observed 98 |
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| 148 | | - | violations made pursuant t o this subsection to the Department of 99 |
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| 149 | | - | Health or the Division of Emergency Management, if appropriate. 100 |
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| 150 | | - | |
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| 151 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 158 | | - | 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 |
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| 159 | | - | |
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| 160 | | - | |
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| 161 | | - | |
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| 162 | | - | (e) The department shall adopt any rules that are 101 |
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| 163 | | - | necessary to implement this subsection. 102 |
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| 164 | | - | Section 3. Section 403.4115, Florida Statutes, is created 103 |
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| 165 | | - | to read: 104 |
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| 166 | | - | 403.4115 Reporting on geoengineering and weather 105 |
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| 167 | | - | modification activities on public infrastructure; penalty. — 106 |
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| 168 | | - | (1) As used in this section, the term: 107 |
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| 169 | | - | (a) "Aircraft" means a powered or unpowered machine or 108 |
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| 170 | | - | device capable of atmospheric flight, except a parachute or 109 |
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| 171 | | - | other such device used primarily as safety equipment. 110 |
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| 172 | | - | (b) "Department" means the Department of Transportation. 111 |
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| 173 | | - | (c) "Public infrastructure" means any public -use airport 112 |
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| 174 | | - | as that term is defined in s. 332.004. 113 |
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| 175 | | - | (2) Beginning on October 1, 2025, all operators of public 114 |
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| 176 | | - | infrastructure shall report monthly to the department, using a 115 |
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| 177 | | - | method determined by the department: 116 |
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| 178 | | - | (a) The physical presence of any aircraft on public 117 |
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| 179 | | - | property, including any public infrastructure, equipped with any 118 |
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| 180 | | - | part, component, device, or the like which may be used to 119 |
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| 181 | | - | support the intentional emission, injection, release, or 120 |
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| 182 | | - | dispersion of air contaminants into the atmosphere within the 121 |
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| 183 | | - | borders of this state when such emissions occur for the express 122 |
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| 184 | | - | purpose of affecting temperature, weather, climate, or the 123 |
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| 185 | | - | intensity of sunlight. 124 |
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| 186 | | - | (b) The landing, takeoff, stopover, or refueling of an 125 |
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| 187 | | - | |
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| 188 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 190 | | - | |
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| 194 | | - | Page 6 of 13 |
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| 195 | | - | 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 |
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| 196 | | - | |
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| 197 | | - | |
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| 198 | | - | |
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| 199 | | - | aircraft equipped with the components outlined in paragraph (a) 126 |
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| 200 | | - | on the physical location of the public infrastructure. 127 |
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| 201 | | - | (3) The department may not expend any state funds as 128 |
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| 202 | | - | described in s. 215.31 to support a project or program located 129 |
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| 203 | | - | on or in support of public infrastructure which is not in 130 |
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| 204 | | - | compliance with this section until such time as the entity 131 |
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| 205 | | - | becomes compliant with this se ction. 132 |
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| 206 | | - | (4) Upon receipt of the reports required in subsection 133 |
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| 207 | | - | (2), the department shall submit aggregated reports to the 134 |
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| 208 | | - | Department of Environmental Protection and the applicable state 135 |
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| 209 | | - | law enforcement agency in support of the enforcement of s. 136 |
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| 210 | | - | 403.411. 137 |
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| 211 | | - | (5) The department shall incorporate reporting guidelines 138 |
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| 212 | | - | in all grant agreements for public use airports which receive 139 |
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| 213 | | - | state funds as described in s. 215.31. 140 |
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| 214 | | - | (6) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement 141 |
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| 215 | | - | this section. 142 |
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| 216 | | - | Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 253.002, Florida 143 |
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| 217 | | - | Statutes, is amended to read: 144 |
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| 218 | | - | 253.002 Department of Environmental Protection, water 145 |
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| 219 | | - | management districts, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 146 |
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| 220 | | - | and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; duties with 147 |
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| 221 | | - | respect to state lands.— 148 |
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| 222 | | - | (1) The Department of Environmental Protection shall 149 |
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| 223 | | - | perform all staff duties and functions related to the 150 |
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| 224 | | - | |
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| 225 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 231 | | - | Page 7 of 13 |
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| 232 | | - | 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 |
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| 233 | | - | |
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| 234 | | - | |
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| 235 | | - | |
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| 236 | | - | acquisition, administration, and disposition of state lands, 151 |
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| 237 | | - | title to which is or will be vested in the Board of Trustees of 152 |
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| 238 | | - | the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. However, upon the effective 153 |
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| 239 | | - | date of rules adopted pursuant to s. 373.427, a water management 154 |
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| 240 | | - | district created under s. 373.069 shall perform the staff duties 155 |
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| 241 | | - | and functions related to the review of any application for 156 |
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| 242 | | - | authorization to use board of trustees -owned submerged lands 157 |
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| 243 | | - | necessary for an activity regulated under part IV of chapter 373 158 |
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| 244 | | - | for which the water management district has permitting 159 |
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| 245 | | - | responsibility as set forth in an operating agreement adopted 160 |
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| 246 | | - | pursuant to s. 373.046(4). The Department of Agriculture and 161 |
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| 247 | | - | Consumer Services shall perform the staff duties and functions 162 |
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| 248 | | - | related to the review of applications and compliance with 163 |
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| 249 | | - | conditions for use of board of trustees -owned submerged lands 164 |
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| 250 | | - | under authorizations or leas es issued pursuant to ss. 253.67 -165 |
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| 251 | | - | 253.75 and 597.010 and the acquisition, administration, and 166 |
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| 252 | | - | disposition of conservation easements pursuant to s. 570.71. 167 |
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| 253 | | - | Unless expressly prohibited by law, the board of trustees may 168 |
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| 254 | | - | delegate to the department any statutory duty or obligation 169 |
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| 255 | | - | relating to the acquisition, administration, or disposition of 170 |
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| 256 | | - | lands, title to which is or will be vested in the board of 171 |
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| 257 | | - | trustees. The board of trustees may also delegate to any water 172 |
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| 258 | | - | management district created under s. 373.069 the au thority to 173 |
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| 259 | | - | take final agency action, without any action on behalf of the 174 |
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| 260 | | - | board, on applications for authorization to use board of 175 |
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| 261 | | - | |
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| 262 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 269 | | - | 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 |
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| 270 | | - | |
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| 271 | | - | |
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| 272 | | - | |
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| 273 | | - | trustees-owned submerged lands for any activity regulated under 176 |
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| 274 | | - | part IV of chapter 373 for which the water management district 177 |
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| 275 | | - | has permitting responsibility as set forth in an operating 178 |
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| 276 | | - | agreement adopted pursuant to s. 373.046(4). This water 179 |
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| 277 | | - | management district responsibility under this subsection is 180 |
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| 278 | | - | shall be subject to the department's general supervisory 181 |
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| 279 | | - | authority pursuant to s. 373.026(6) s. 373.026(7). The board of 182 |
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| 280 | | - | trustees may also delegate to the Department of Agriculture and 183 |
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| 281 | | - | Consumer Services the authority to take final agency action on 184 |
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| 282 | | - | behalf of the board on applications to use board of trustees -185 |
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| 283 | | - | owned submerged lands for a ny activity for which that department 186 |
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| 284 | | - | has responsibility pursuant to ss. 253.67 -253.75, 369.25, 187 |
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| 285 | | - | 369.251, and 597.010. However, the board of trustees shall 188 |
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| 286 | | - | retain the authority to take final agency action on establishing 189 |
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| 287 | | - | any areas for leasing, new leases, e xpanding existing lease 190 |
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| 288 | | - | areas, or changing the type of lease activity in existing 191 |
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| 289 | | - | leases. Upon issuance of an aquaculture lease or other real 192 |
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| 290 | | - | property transaction relating to aquaculture, the Department of 193 |
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| 291 | | - | Agriculture and Consumer Services must send a copy of the 194 |
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| 292 | | - | document and the accompanying survey to the Department of 195 |
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| 293 | | - | Environmental Protection. The board of trustees may also 196 |
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| 294 | | - | delegate to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the 197 |
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| 295 | | - | authority to take final agency action, without any action on 198 |
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| 296 | | - | behalf of the board, on applications for authorization to use 199 |
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| 297 | | - | board of trustees-owned submerged lands for any activity 200 |
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| 298 | | - | |
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| 299 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 306 | | - | 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 |
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| 307 | | - | |
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| 308 | | - | |
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| 309 | | - | |
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| 310 | | - | regulated under ss. 369.20 and 369.22. 201 |
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| 311 | | - | Section 5. Subsection (6) of section 373.026, Florida 202 |
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| 312 | | - | Statutes, is amended to read: 203 |
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| 313 | | - | 373.026 General powers and duties of the department. —The 204 |
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| 314 | | - | department, or its successor agency, shall be responsible for 205 |
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| 315 | | - | the administration of this chapter at the state level. However, 206 |
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| 316 | | - | it is the policy of the state that, to the greatest extent 207 |
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| 317 | | - | possible, the department may ent er into interagency or 208 |
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| 318 | | - | interlocal agreements with any other state agency, any water 209 |
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| 319 | | - | management district, or any local government conducting programs 210 |
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| 320 | | - | related to or materially affecting the water resources of the 211 |
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| 321 | | - | state. All such agreements shall be subject t o the provisions of 212 |
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| 322 | | - | s. 373.046. In addition to its other powers and duties, the 213 |
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| 323 | | - | department shall, to the greatest extent possible: 214 |
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| 324 | | - | (6) Conduct, either independently or in cooperation with 215 |
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| 325 | | - | any person or governmental agency, a program of study, research, 216 |
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| 326 | | - | and experimentation and evaluation in the field of weather 217 |
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| 327 | | - | modification. 218 |
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| 328 | | - | Section 6. Subsections (1) and (9) of section 373.1501, 219 |
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| 329 | | - | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 220 |
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| 330 | | - | 373.1501 South Florida Water Management District as local 221 |
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| 331 | | - | sponsor.— 222 |
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| 332 | | - | (1) As used in this section and s. 373.026(7) s. 223 |
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| 333 | | - | 373.026(8), the term: 224 |
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| 334 | | - | (a) "C-111 Project" means the project identified in the 225 |
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| 335 | | - | |
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| 336 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 343 | | - | 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 |
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| 344 | | - | |
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| 345 | | - | |
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| 346 | | - | |
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| 347 | | - | Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project, Real Estate 226 |
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| 348 | | - | Design Memorandum, Canal 111, South Miami -Dade County, Florida. 227 |
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| 349 | | - | (b) "Department" means the Department of Environmental 228 |
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| 350 | | - | Protection. 229 |
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| 351 | | - | (c) "District" means the South Florida Water Management 230 |
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| 352 | | - | District. 231 |
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| 353 | | - | (d) "Kissimmee River Restoration Project" means the 232 |
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| 354 | | - | project identified in the Project Cooperation Agreement between 233 |
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| 355 | | - | the United States Department of the Army and the South Florida 234 |
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| 356 | | - | Water Management District dated March 22, 1994. 235 |
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| 357 | | - | (e) "Pal-Mar Project" means the Pal -Mar (West Jupiter 236 |
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| 358 | | - | Wetlands) lands identified in the Save Our Rivers 2000 Land 237 |
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| 359 | | - | Acquisition and Management Plan approved b y the South Florida 238 |
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| 360 | | - | Water Management District on September 9, 1999 (Resolution 99 -239 |
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| 361 | | - | 94). 240 |
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| 362 | | - | (f) "Project" means the Central and Southern Florida 241 |
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| 363 | | - | Project. 242 |
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| 364 | | - | (g) "Project component" means any structural or 243 |
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| 365 | | - | operational change, resulting from the restudy, to the Central 244 |
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| 366 | | - | and Southern Florida Project as it existed and was operated as 245 |
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| 367 | | - | of January 1, 1999. 246 |
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| 368 | | - | (h) "Restudy" means the Comprehensive Review Study of the 247 |
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| 369 | | - | Central and Southern Florida Project, for which federal 248 |
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| 370 | | - | participation was authorized by the federal Water Resources 249 |
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| 371 | | - | Development Acts of 1992 and 1996 together with related 250 |
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| 372 | | - | |
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| 373 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 374 | | - | |
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| 376 | | - | |
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| 377 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 378 | | - | hb477-02-c2 |
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| 379 | | - | Page 11 of 13 |
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| 380 | | - | 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 |
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| 381 | | - | |
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| 382 | | - | |
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| 383 | | - | |
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| 384 | | - | congressional resolutions and for which participation by the 251 |
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| 385 | | - | South Florida Water Management District is authorized by this 252 |
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| 386 | | - | section. The term includes all actions undertaken pursuant to 253 |
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| 387 | | - | the aforementioned authorizations which will result in 254 |
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| 388 | | - | recommendations for modifications or additions to the Central 255 |
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| 389 | | - | and Southern Florida Project. 256 |
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| 390 | | - | (i) "Southern Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed 257 |
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| 391 | | - | Project" means the area described in the Critical Restoration 258 |
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| 392 | | - | Project Contract C-9906 Southern Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem 259 |
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| 393 | | - | Watershed Project Addition/Imperial River Flowway and approved 260 |
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| 394 | | - | by the South Florida Water Management District on August 12, 261 |
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| 395 | | - | 1999. 262 |
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| 396 | | - | (j) "Water Preserve Areas" means those areas locat ed only 263 |
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| 397 | | - | within Palm Beach and Broward counties that are designated as 264 |
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| 398 | | - | Water Preserve Areas, as approved by the South Florida Water 265 |
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| 399 | | - | Management District Governing Board on September 11, 1997, and 266 |
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| 400 | | - | shall also include all of those lands within Cell II of the Ea st 267 |
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| 401 | | - | Coast Buffer in Broward County as delineated in the boundary 268 |
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| 402 | | - | survey prepared by Stoner and Associates, Inc., dated January 269 |
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| 403 | | - | 31, 2000, SWFWMD #10953. 270 |
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| 404 | | - | (k) "Ten Mile Creek Project" means the Ten Mile Creek 271 |
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| 405 | | - | Water Preserve Area identified in the Central and Southern 272 |
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| 406 | | - | Florida Ecosystem Critical Project Letter Report dated April 13, 273 |
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| 407 | | - | 1998. 274 |
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| 408 | | - | (9) Final agency action with regard to any project 275 |
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| 409 | | - | |
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| 410 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 411 | | - | |
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| 412 | | - | |
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| 413 | | - | |
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| 414 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 415 | | - | hb477-02-c2 |
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| 416 | | - | Page 12 of 13 |
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| 417 | | - | 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 |
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| 418 | | - | |
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| 419 | | - | |
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| 420 | | - | |
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| 421 | | - | component subject to s. 373.026(7)(b) s. 373.026(8)(b) shall be 276 |
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| 422 | | - | taken by the department. Actions taken by the district pur suant 277 |
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| 423 | | - | to subsection (5) may shall not be considered final agency 278 |
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| 424 | | - | action. A Any petition for formal proceedings filed pursuant to 279 |
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| 425 | | - | ss. 120.569 and 120.57 requires shall require a hearing under 280 |
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| 426 | | - | the summary hearing provisions of s. 120.574, which is shall be 281 |
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| 427 | | - | mandatory. The final hearing under this section must shall be 282 |
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| 428 | | - | held within 30 days after receipt of the petition by the 283 |
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| 429 | | - | Division of Administrative Hearings. 284 |
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| 430 | | - | Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of section 285 |
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| 431 | | - | 373.4598, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 286 |
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| 432 | | - | 373.4598 Water storage reservoirs. — 287 |
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| 433 | | - | (10) FUNDING.— 288 |
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| 434 | | - | (c) Notwithstanding s. 373.026(7)(b) s. 373.026(8)(b) or 289 |
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| 435 | | - | any other provision of law, the use of state funds is authorized 290 |
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| 436 | | - | for the EAA reservoir project. 291 |
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| 437 | | - | Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsecti on (6) of section 292 |
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| 438 | | - | 373.470, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 293 |
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| 439 | | - | 373.470 Everglades restoration. — 294 |
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| 440 | | - | (6) DISTRIBUTIONS FROM SAVE OUR EVERGLADES TRUST FUND. — 295 |
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| 441 | | - | (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) and for 296 |
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| 442 | | - | funds appropriated for debt service, th e department shall 297 |
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| 443 | | - | distribute funds in the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund to the 298 |
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| 444 | | - | district in accordance with a legislative appropriation and s. 299 |
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| 445 | | - | 373.026(7)(b) s. 373.026(8)(b). Distribution of funds to the 300 |
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| 446 | | - | |
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| 447 | | - | CS/CS/HB 477 2025 |
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| 448 | | - | |
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| 449 | | - | |
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| 450 | | - | |
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| 451 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 453 | | - | Page 13 of 13 |
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| 454 | | - | 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 |
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| 455 | | - | |
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| 456 | | - | |
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| 457 | | - | |
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| 458 | | - | district from the Save Our Everglades Trust Fund shall be 301 |
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| 459 | | - | equally matched by the cumulative contributions from the 302 |
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| 460 | | - | district by fiscal year 2019 -2020 by providing funding or 303 |
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| 461 | | - | credits toward project components. The dollar value of in -kind 304 |
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| 462 | | - | project design and construction work by the district in 305 |
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| 463 | | - | furtherance of the comprehensive plan and existing interest in 306 |
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| 464 | | - | public lands needed for a project component are credits towards 307 |
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| 465 | | - | the district's contributions. 308 |
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| 466 | | - | Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 309 |
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| 15 | + | An act relating to weather modification activities; 2 |
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| 16 | + | amending s. 403.411, F.S.; increasing civil penalties 3 |
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| 17 | + | for violations of the weather modification law; 4 |
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| 18 | + | providing an effective date. 5 |
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| 19 | + | 6 |
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| 20 | + | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7 |
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| 21 | + | 8 |
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| 22 | + | Section 1. Section 403.411, Florida Statutes, is amended 9 |
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| 23 | + | to read: 10 |
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| 24 | + | 403.411 Penalty.—Any person conducting a weather 11 |
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| 25 | + | modification operation without first havin g procured a license, 12 |
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| 26 | + | or who makes shall make a false statement in his or her 13 |
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| 27 | + | application for license, or who fails shall fail to file any 14 |
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| 28 | + | report or reports as required by this act, or who conducts shall 15 |
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| 29 | + | conduct any weather modification operation after rev ocation or 16 |
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| 30 | + | suspension of his or her license, or who violates shall violate 17 |
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| 31 | + | any other provision of this act, commits shall be guilty of a 18 |
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| 32 | + | misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 19 |
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| 33 | + | 775.082 and by a fine not exceeding $10,000, or s. 775.083; and, 20 |
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| 34 | + | if a corporation, the corporation commits shall be guilty of a 21 |
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| 35 | + | misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable by a fine not 22 |
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| 36 | + | exceeding $10,000 as provided in s. 775.083 . Each such violation 23 |
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| 37 | + | is shall be a separate offense. 24 |
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| 38 | + | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 25 |
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