The 2026 Florida Legislative Session took place from January 13 to March 13, 2026. Every Session, Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC), with critical help from our supporters, legislators, and partner environmental organizations, works to defeat problematic legislation and champion policies that will protect sea turtles. This Session brought challenges and positive outcomes for Florida’s sea turtles and their habitats. Below is a summary of how our priority bills fared:
SB 840: Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters – Stalled
SB 840 aimed to repeal the most harmful provisions of SB 180, a bill passed in 2025 that effectively froze local planning in Florida. While the Senate version of the bill was passed by the full Senate, a House version did not make it to the finish line. Multiple attempts to add this language to an existing Senate bill also failed. STC is disappointed that important local comprehensive plan amendments and other regulations to protect natural resources in Florida will continue to be frozen for another year.
SB 302: Coastal Resiliency – Passed
SB 302 requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to create rules for the implementation of nature-based solutions to coastal erosion and sea level rise. Additionally, the bill adds restrictions on dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, protecting sensitive seagrass and mangroves.
HB 441: Conservation Lands – Passed
This bill is designed to increase transparency and public oversight regarding the sale, exchange, or management of state-owned conservation lands.
SB 240/HB 575: Auxiliary Containers – Stalled
This bill aimed to protect existing local regulation on single-use items while creating a plan for a statewide, unified effort to combat Florida’s marine pollution. It was heard in one committee and did not move forward. HB 629, a bad bill that would preempt local regulations on single use items, also did not move forward.
HB 1171/SB 988: Endangered or Threatened Marine Animals – Stalled
HB 1171/SB 988 sought to prohibit the State from issuing Special Activity Licenses that allow for the collection and transportation of endangered or threatened marine animals from state waters.
SB 1066/HB 981: Tributaries of the St. Johns River – Stalled
SB 1066/HB 981 created a plan to restore the Ocklawaha River, an important ecosystem that has been blocked by a dam for more than 50 years. The bill passed the full House and through all of its Senate committees, but it was never heard for a vote in the full Senate.
HB 299/SB 354: Blue Ribbon Projects – Stalled
HB 299/SB 354 would have fast-tracked development projects of 15,000+ acres, allowing them to bypass local zoning, land-use, and comprehensive plan requirements. After bipartisan opposition, the bill did not move forward this Session.
