Latest news with #HB209
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida's new parks law is just a start. Now DeSantis must enforce it.
It didn't have the pomp and circumstance that it deserved, but Gov. Ron DeSantis did the right thing — albeit grudgingly — by signing legislation into law to protect Florida's 175 state parks from encroaching development. The challenge he and future Florida governors now face is to make sure that the State Parks Preservation Act is both respected and enforced. Floridians have made their feelings known ever since last summer's disclosures that developers wanted to build golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels in nine parks, including the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The outrage started with irate park visitors protesting in front of the targeted state parks. It only grew from there as more individuals and environmental groups across the state joined the fray. Their outrage prompted local lawmakers, state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and state Reps. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Boca Raton, to file bills — SB 80 and HB 209, respectively — that received unanimous support and approval within the Florida Legislature. Editorial: Florida's new parks law is just a start in protecting our state's environment The public sent a crystal-clear message that they don't want to see the state's natural and undisturbed forests, parks and "wild" open spaces transformed into gaudy tourist traps. The bill may have become law without the fanfare of a public signing event, but the fact that the new environmental protection law now exists shows that DeSantis has gotten the peoples' memo. Floridians will be vigilant in making sure that preservation remains a priority of state government, as evidenced by the thousands of texts and phone calls received by state lawmakers before and during this year's legislative session. Also, by their reaction via emailed Letters to the Editor, op-eds, Facebook posts and more to the USA Today Network-Florida Opinion Group's unrelenting campaign to get the legislation passed and signed into law. Opinion: How Gov. Ron DeSantis can spin signing the FL 'State Park Preservation Act' The debacle that resulted in the new law came from an unlikely source — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. DEP, designed to be the lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, crafted a seemingly counterproductive initiative. Dubbed The Great Outdoors Initiative, the plan was designed to increase park interest by allowing developers to build attractions and facilities not normally associated with protected natural habitats. Access is one thing, but building three golf courses in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park, as initially proposed, is simply outrageous. Harrell was the first lawmaker to recognize the mounting outrage. In the midst of the public outcry, she announced that she would file a bill to address the mounting concerns of commercializing Florida's parks. She filed SB 80 and that bill, and its House counterpart, won unanimous approval at each committee stop. By the time, the bills reached the floors of the Florida House and Senate, it was obvious that the legislation was heading to the governor's desk. The initial statewide protests caught the eyes of many lawmakers — both state and federal. When confronted with questions about the controversial initiative that clearly came out of an agency he controlled, Gov. DeSantis initially distanced himself from the proposal. He later blamed "left-wing groups" for stirring up opposition to what was very bad plan. Neither reaction slowed the determination of Floridians who wanted their state parks to remain parks. Nine months and a 180-degrees later, DeSantis signed the bill into law, and Floridians now have a new legal layer of park protection. It's both a victory and a start. The task now for the governor, DEP officials and indeed, for all Floridians, is to ensure that the letter and spirit of the new parks law is followed to fullest extent possible. This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida has a new parks law. Enforcement must be priority | Editorial
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Florida governor signs protection bill, meaning no golf courses in state parks
Florida governor signs protection bill, meaning no golf courses in state parks Show Caption Hide Caption Does Florida Parks bill offers lesson in how politics should work From proposal to develop to protest to bill for protection, Florida Today's John A. Torres asks our panel if this is how local and state politics should work Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill protecting state parks from commercial development. The bill, passed unanimously by the legislature, restricts development like golf courses and luxury lodges in favor of activities like hiking. The legislation was introduced after public outcry against a previous plan to commercialize state parks. As he said he would, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a measure to protect Florida's 175 state parks from development such as golf courses, luxury lodges and pickleball and tennis courts. The news came from a message on a legislative website: "Approved by Governor on Thursday, May 22, 2025 4:43 PM." There was no public bill signing event and no immediate comment from his office. Regardless, the signing on May 22 is likely the final chapter in a saga that began last summer: DeSantis' Department of Environmental Protection announced a plan to commercialize Florida's 175 state parks with custom amenities at beloved natural icons like Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, and Topsail Hill Preserve in Walton County. Critics quickly likened the plan to "paving over paradise," and DeSantis himself shelved the Great Outdoors Initiative, saying it included "a lot of that stuff was just half-baked and was not ready for prime time." In a stunning rebuke to the DeSantis administration, two Stuart Republicans – Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder – took the lead in carrying the legislation (HB 209). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, among many others – 48 in all from both parties, or almost a third of the Legislature. And the bill passed both chambers unanimously. The Harrell-Snyder legislation, named the State Parks Preservation Act, mandates that DEP focus park management on passive traditional recreational activities that leaves the land mostly undisturbed. And lawmakers define what those activities are, like hiking. HB-209 was co-sponsored by Representative John Snyder (R-Stuart), Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart), and Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-District 91). The bill passed both legislative chambers unanimously and mandates public transparency through required hearings and digital access to updated land management plans —ensuring public oversight and protection of Florida's natural and historic resources. 'The passage of this bill ensures that our state parks are protected forever. This is democracy at work. The voices of the people have been heard,' Harrell said in a statement. Lawmakers also created a straitjacket of regulations to maintain DEP's focus on preservation by requiring the department to ask for public input to develop park management plans that must be updated every ten years. Any changes to those plans would require two public hearings while they are being developed and written. The new law was endorsed by Audubon Florida, a conservation group that helped create the first state park in 1916 (Royal Park, now part of the Everglades National Park). 'This may be one of the most monumental environmental laws Florida has ever passed,' said Rep. Gossett-Seidman. 'Our parks are not for sale—they're sacred public spaces filled with natural beauty that must be protected for future generations. The new law also renames the St. Marks River Preserve State Park in Leon and Jefferson counties to the "Ney Landrum State Park" in honor of the late director emeritus of Florida State Parks who passed away in 2017. Landrum served as state parks director 1970–89. (This story was updated to add new information.) James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida's new parks law is just a start in protecting our state's environment
It didn't have the pomp and circumstance that it deserved, but Gov. Ron DeSantis did the right thing — albeit grudgingly — by signing legislation into law to protect Florida's 175 state parks from encroaching development. The challenge he and future Florida governors now face is to make sure that the State Parks Preservation Act is both respected and enforced. Floridians have made their feelings known ever since last summer's disclosures that developers wanted to build golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels in nine parks, including the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Their outrage prompted local lawmakers, state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and state Reps. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Boca Raton, to file bills — SB 80 and HB 209, respectively — that received unanimous support and approval within the Florida Legislature. The public sent a crystal-clear message that they don't want to see the state's natural and undisturbed forests, parks and "wild" open spaces transformed into gaudy tourist traps. The bill may have become law without the fanfare of a public signing event, but the fact that the new environmental protection law now exists shows that DeSantis has gotten the peoples' memo. Floridians will be vigilant in making sure that preservation remains a priority of state government, as evidenced by the thousands of texts and phone calls received by lawmakers during the session. Also, by their reaction via emailed Letters to the Editor, op-eds, Facebook posts and more to the USA Today Network-Florida Opinion Group's unrelenting campaign to get the legislation passed and signed into law. Opinion: How Gov. Ron DeSantis can spin signing the FL 'State Park Preservation Act' The debacle that resulted in the new law came from an unlikely source — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. DEP, designed to be the lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, crafted a seemingly counterproductive initiative. Dubbed The Great Outdoors Initiative, the plan was designed to increase park interest by allowing developers to build attractions and facilities not normally associated with protected natural habitats. Access is one thing, but building three golf courses in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park, as initially proposed, is simply outrageous. Harrell was the first lawmaker to recognize the mounting outrage. In the midst of the public outcry, she announced that she would file a bill to address the mounting concerns of commercializing Florida's parks. She filed SB 80 and that bill, and its House counterpart, won unanimous approval at each committee stop. By the time, the bills reached the floors of the Florida House and Senate, it was obvious that the legislation was heading to the governor's desk. DeSantis signed the bill, and Floridians now have a new legal layer of park protection. It's both a victory and a start. The task now for the DEP, governor and indeed, for all Floridians, is to ensure that the letter and spirit of the new parks law is followed to fullest extent possible. This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida has new state parks law. Enforcement is now key | Editorial
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. DeSantis quietly signs proposal barring golf courses, hotels in state parks
St Petersburg resident Caroline Chomaniacs at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin on Aug. 27, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill born out of the backlash against his administration's plan last summer to build golf courses, hotels, and pickleball courts at nine state parks. The Legislature unanimously approved HB 209, which prohibits construction of specified sporting facilities and public lodgings in state parks, such as golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and ball fields. Southeast Republican Rep. John Snyder pitched the proposal following backlash and protests from Republicans and Democrats alike, who opposed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's leaked plan to build such facilities. While state officials dropped the plan, DeSantis tried to distance himself from it. He also told reporters during a press conference on May 7 that he would sign the bill. The governor's office announced his approval of the bill among a list of 17 bills DeSantis signed Thursday. 'What began as the so-called 'Great Outdoors Initiative' to develop our parks has ended in a landmark law ensuring they are protected forever. This achievement is nothing short of historic,' Florida's chapter of the Sierra Club posted on Facebook. The new law requires the state to announce public hearings regarding projects in state parks 30 days in advance. The department had scheduled meetings to gather public feedback on the same date and time across the nine state parks, prompting further outrage and causing the postponement of those meetings. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida state parks saved from development as Gov. DeSantis signs protection bill
As he said he would, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a measure to protect Florida's 175 state parks from development such as golf courses, luxury lodges and pickleball and tennis courts. The news came from a message on a legislative website: "Approved by Governor on Thursday, May 22, 2025 4:43 PM." There was no public bill signing event and no immediate comment from his office. Regardless, the signing on May 22 is likely the final chapter in a saga that began last summer: DeSantis' Department of Environmental Protection announced a plan to commercialize Florida's 175 state parks with custom amenities at beloved natural icons like Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, and Topsail Hill Preserve in Walton County. Critics quickly likened the plan to "paving over paradise," and DeSantis himself shelved the Great Outdoors Initiative, saying it included "a lot of that stuff was just half-baked and was not ready for prime time." In a stunning rebuke to the DeSantis administration, two Stuart Republicans – Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder – took the lead in carrying the legislation (HB 209). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, among many others – 48 in all from both parties, or almost a third of the Legislature. And the bill passed both chambers unanimously. The Harrell-Snyder legislation, named the State Parks Preservation Act, mandates that DEP focus park management on passive traditional recreational activities that leaves the land mostly undisturbed. And lawmakers define what those activities are, like hiking. Lawmakers also created a straitjacket of regulations to maintain DEP's focus on preservation by requiring the department to ask for public input to develop park management plans that must be updated every ten years. Any changes to those plans would require two public hearings while they are being developed and written. The new law was endorsed by Audubon Florida, a conservation group that helped create the first state park in 1916 (Royal Park, now part of the Everglades National Park). The new law also renames the St. Marks River Preserve State Park in Leon and Jefferson counties to the "Ney Landrum State Park" in honor of the late director emeritus of Florida State Parks who passed away in 2017. Landrum served as state parks director 1970–89. (This story was updated to add new information.) James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis signs new law to protect Florida parks from development
