In Florida, healthy waterways are non-negotiable, from the Indian River Lagoon to the Everglades, our estuaries and coastlines anchor our economies and livelihoods. Floridians know our ecosystems better than anyone, that’s why I am proudly co-leading a bill that restores Florida’s permitting independence.  

Currently, pursuing any project that might touch our network of wetlands requires a permit from the federal government. It’s part of the Clean Water Act, and it means waiting on the Army of Corps of Engineers and out-of-state government for approval to do just about anything. It’s why in 2018, Florida took the reigns from the Corps to manage its permitting process. 

For nearly four years, we ran our own “dredge and fill permitting program” for our wetlands, and we ran it well. Built by the Department of Environmental Protection, with input from each neighboring community, it cut red tape, eliminated duplicative federal review, and gave families, builders, and municipalities a streamlined front door for water permits.

Unfortunately in 2024, a D.C. federal court pulled the plug on the whole program, and earlier this year the D.C. Circuit agreed. The Army Corps of Engineers has been processing Florida's permits ever since.

This level of scrutiny is unacceptable—we’re talking about single-family homes, local road and bridge projects, utility upgrades, shoreline stabilization, and privately-owned small boat ramps and water access. It can’t continue.

To put the power back in the hands of Floridians, I co-led the “Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026,” to bring permitting authority back to our communities—because Florida knows Florida’s waters best.