Budget proposals were expected from both chambers last week but were postponed as they continue negotiating to move closer to alignment on their spending proposals.<\/p>\n
Several AI-related bills moved forward last week.<\/p>\n
SB 484 \u2014 Data Centers would set parameters for the Public Service Commission regarding large energy-load customers and would allow local governments to maintain control over data center planning and zoning.<\/p>\n
SB 1118 \u2014 Public Record\/Data Centers, an anti-transparency bill, also passed. It provides public records exemptions for the plans, intentions or interests of a person to locate a data center for up to one year. This would be problematic for residents adjacent to a planned center or when advocating for environmental protections on the center\u2019s location.<\/p>\n
Several local government preemption bills advanced last week, including those related to land use and resilience planning. In contrast, a popular conservation bill passed unanimously and should be heard in its final committee in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
GROWTH MANAGEMENT\/LAND USE<\/p>\n
Land Use and Development Regulations \u2014 HB 399 by Rep. David Borrero passed its second committee, the Housing, Agriculture, and Tourism Subcommittee, by a vote of 11-4. This local government preemption bill calls for a state study on the impacts of removing locally approved urban growth boundaries and preempts local governments by requiring only a simple majority to approve a land use change rather than the supermajority standards most local governments have in place today.<\/p>\n
The similar Senate version, SB 208, by Sen. Stan McClain was headed for its third and final stop in Senate Rules as of Feb. 6.<\/p>\n
Agricultural Enclaves \u2014 HB 691 by Rep. Adam Botana also passed in the Housing, Agriculture, and Tourism Subcommittee by a vote of 16-0 and is headed for its final committee stop in House State Affairs. This troubling preemption bill seeks to expedite single-family development in agricultural enclaves by shortening the public hearing process and limiting staff review time. This bill also contains many of the elements of SB 208 outlined in the previously mentioned HB 399.<\/p>\n
PUBLIC LANDS<\/p>\n
Conservation Lands \u2014 SB 546 by Sen. Debbie Mayfield passed unanimously in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, and is set to appear next in its final committee stop, Senate Rules. This bill is tracking forward with its identical House companion bill, HB 441, by co-sponsors Reps. Kim Kendall and Allison Tant. The bill is a result of this past summer\u2019s secretive and unpopular Guana River Wildlife Management Area land swap proposal. This bill calls for more notice, 30 days instead of the current seve, and increased transparency in any future state conservation land swap proposal.<\/p>\n
Check out our 2026 Legislative Tracker at https:\/\/sccf.org\/what-we-do\/2026-legislative-session\/<\/a> to see a table of the bills that the SCCF is following, updated daily during session.<\/p>\n Holly Schwartz is policy associate for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Founded in 1967, the SCCF\u2019s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida\u2019s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit sccf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n