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HB 701FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Died in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee

High Impact

HB 701: Water Management District Oversight and Funding

Original title: Water Management Districts

March 13, 2026

Companion · SB 1120same policy, Senate version

water management lobbying taxation Everglades restoration budgeting environmental policy

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently Died in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

Property owners in water management districts may face new tax levies if approved by voters, and the bill mandates stricter reporting on the costs and progress of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Property owners in water management districts

They are subject to potential new ad valorem tax levies that require voter approval.

Lobbyists and principals

They are subject to new prohibitions on expenditures and potential investigations by the Commission on Ethics.

South Florida Water Management District

They must provide detailed financial and performance reports and follow new budget and project ranking procedures.

What changed

Current stage: Died in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill introduces new oversight requirements for lobbyists, mandates detailed financial reporting for Everglades restoration projects, and establishes new procedures for water management districts to levy property taxes. It also updates budget transparency requirements and changes how flood and sea-level rise projects are ranked for state funding.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my property taxes increase under this bill?

The bill authorizes water management districts to levy es, but requires that any such tax for specific projects be approved by a majority vote of the in the district or basin.

What new responsibilities does the Commission on Ethics have?

The Commission is required to investigate lobbyists or s who make prohibited expenditures and report their findings and recommendations to the Governor.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

PACIFIC ATLANTIC PARTNERS

on behalf of WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

View filing →

MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC

on behalf of HIDALGO COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 1

View filing →

SIERRA PACIFIC STRATEGIES

on behalf of KLAMATH IRRIGATION DISTRICT

View filing →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Increased Voter Oversight for Taxes

The bill shifts the authority for levying ad valorem taxes by requiring a direct majority vote from district electors, rather than allowing governing boards to act unilaterally.

South Florida Water Management District