SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
\nFrom left, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Policy Associate Allie Pecenka and Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis attended the Lee County Legislative Delegation’s meeting on Oct. 28.<\/p>\n
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that as a nonprofit science-based organization, it is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of Sanibel and Captiva and their watersheds and surrounding waters.<\/p>\n
Each year during Florida\u2019s legislative session, the SCCF\u2019s environmental policy department works to ensure the environment comes first by educating communities on important bills and empowering them to contact lawmakers. The team also advocates its priorities to key decision-makers at the local, state and federal levels.<\/p>\n
Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis presented the SCCF\u2019s priorities for the 2026 legislative session \u2014 Jan. 13 to March 13 \u2014 at the Lee County Legislative Delegation\u2019s meeting on Oct. 28.<\/p>\n
In addition to asking for continued support for funding for Everglades restoration and other conservation projects, he expressed excitement at working with the delegation to ensure Florida is well situated to properly address the issues of community self-governance, conservation, ecosystem restoration, water quality, harmful algal blooms and resiliency.<\/p>\n
The SCCF\u2019s 2026 legislative priorities include:<\/p>\n
COMMUNITY SELF-GOVERNANCE<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports Home Rule and opposes any statewide pre-emption policies that would restrict the ability of local governments ability to protect our natural resources.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports a legislative fix to undue the burdensome restrictions from Senate Bill 180 that prevent local leaders from protecting their communities.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports maintaining the public\u2019s ability to meaningfully participate in agency permitting decisions and opposes automatically awarding prevailing parties attorney\u2019s fees in such cases.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports protecting the ability of the public to participate in self-governance.<\/p>\n
CONSERVATION<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports statutorily increased dedicated funding for the Florida Forever conservation and recreation lands program. Land conservation is critical for supporting Florida\u2019s tourism and nature-based economy.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports the protection of existing conservation lands and aquatic preserves.<\/p>\n
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports prioritizing funding and expediting the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area. The EAA Reservoir Project is critical for reducing the damaging high-volume discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries and rehydrating the Everglades.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports full funding for Everglades restoration to keep projects on track with the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS). Everglades restoration is essential to improve the health of the Caloosahatchee.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF will strongly oppose any effort to limit, weaken or rollback wetland protection efforts defined in the federal Clean Water Act 404 program.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF will strongly oppose introduction or expansion of mitigation programs that allow for the destruction of wetlands, mangroves, seagrass or other fragile ecosystems.<\/p>\n
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports the reduction of manmade nutrients into our waterways through voluntary programs such as Best Management Practices (BMPs) and septic to sewer conversions, as well as enhanced regulatory protections for our waters and increased enforcement of current regulations.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports implementation and funding of the Blue-Green Algae Taskforce recommendations to address nutrient sources and innovative technologies to mitigate blooms.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission\u2019s Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force and funding for research and monitoring of red tide and other harmful algal blooms in Florida\u2019s coastal waters.<\/p>\n
RESILIENCY<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports protections to net metering and other incentives to the implementation of roof-top solar for individuals.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports the monitoring of the implementation of the Resilient Florida Program to ensure that grant funding is being spent thoughtfully on solutions to climate change.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF continues to support a ban on oil drilling in the Gulf and a transition to energy sources that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF will support incentivizing diverse energy sources to make our state more resilient.<\/p>\n
WATER QUALITY<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF opposes weakening permitting requirements for development in wetlands, coastal high-hazard areas and other sensitive locations to ensure that adequate protections remain in place for natural resources.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF continues to support the passage of the Safe Waterways Act and will work with legislative sponsors and statewide partners to reintroduce legislation to keep Floridians informed about the health of their waterways.<\/p>\n
\u2013 SCCF supports further improvements to statewide stormwater standards for development to meaningfully reduce runoff of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and suspended solids to protect water quality.<\/p>\n
The environmental policy team discusses the priorities and provides context to this year\u2019s session in an episode of the SCCF\u2019s podcast, \u201cLand. Water. Wildlife.\u201d It pulls back the curtain on pre-session buzz, explores which environmentally harmful bills could be making a comeback and highlights why staying engaged in the legislative process matters for protecting Florida\u2019s natural resources.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit https:\/\/sccf.org\/what-we-do\/environmental-policy\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n