SB 1066 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Tributaries of the St. Johns River

Summary

Tributaries of the St. Johns River; Citing this act as the "Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act"; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection, by a specified date, to hire a project lead to oversee the implementation of the act; requiring the department to develop, by a specified date, a project plan for the restoration of the Ocklawaha River; providing that the project plan is an environmental restoration or enhancement project subject to a general permit from the department and water management districts; providing for the creation of the Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council by a specified date, etc.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 1066 c2 → S 1066 c3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a Committee Substitute (c2) to a Committee Substitute (c3), incorporating specific operational details and deadlines that were previously omitted or vague. The most significant change is the explicit mandate to breach the Kirkpatrick Dam and decommission the Buckman Lock to restore the river's natural flow, alongside the addition of a 16-member advisory council and specific implementation dates for various plans.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific actions (dam breaching) and a new advisory council structure, while clarifying the legal requirements for environmental permits.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement to breach the Kirkpatrick Dam and decommission the Buckman Lock to restore the Ocklawaha River's natural flow.

Created a new 16-member Northeast Florida River and Springs Recreation and Economic Development Advisory Council with specific appointment rules and staggered terms.

Defined the permit process more strictly, requiring compliance with specific Florida Administrative Code rules for environmental restoration.

Added a sunset clause requiring the repeal of the advisory council section by October 2, 2029, unless re-enacted.

TIMELINE

Established specific deadlines for hiring a project lead (August 31, 2026), establishing the council (October 31, 2026), and submitting an advisory report (February 1, 2027).

S 1066 c1 → S 1066 c2 · 14 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to shift oversight from the Environment and Natural Resources Committee to the Appropriations Committee, adding the Agriculture and General Government committees. Substantively, the new version expands the project plan's goal to restore the river to pre-Cross Florida Barge Canal conditions, adds specific administrative code references for permits, extends the plan completion deadline to 2032, and details a 16-member advisory council with staggered terms and specific appointment criteria. The outdoor recreation and economic development plans now include explicit requirements for public comment and compatibility with the restoration plan.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific restoration targets (pre-1960s canal conditions) and a more detailed advisory council structure, while the committee jurisdiction was broadened to include Appropriations.

TIMELINE

The deadline to complete the restoration project plan was extended from an unspecified date to December 31, 2032.

The deadline for the advisory council to submit its report was changed to February 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

The project plan must now aim to restore the Ocklawaha River to conditions existing before the Cross Florida Barge Canal project.

The project plan must be based on the department's pending Joint Application for Environmental Resource and Federal Dredge and Fill Permit.

The project plan must incorporate the best available science.

The outdoor recreation plan must be made available for public comment before implementation.

The outdoor recreation plan must be compatible with the project plan and applicable statutes.

The economic development program must support job creation, capital investment, and economic diversification.

The economic development program must be compatible with the project plan, outdoor recreation plan, and grant program.

The advisory council now consists of 16 members with specific appointment criteria, 4-year staggered terms, and reimbursement for travel expenses.

The advisory council must submit recommendations to minimize impacts on property owners or businesses directly affected by the restoration.

The advisory council is subject to automatic repeal on October 2, 2029, unless reviewed and saved by the Legislature.

Permitting references were updated to include specific Florida Administrative Code rules (62-330.405 and 62-330.485).

ENFORCEMENT

The bill was re-categorized under the Appropriations Committee, adding the Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/12/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 10 NAYS 1

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, 02/04/26, 3:45 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 01/20/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors