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HB 701FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026dead
High Impact

Proposed Changes to Water Management District Operations and Funding

Original title: Water Management Districts

December 9, 2025

Companion · SB 1120same policy, Senate version
water managementgovernment ethicstaxationbudgetingEverglades restorationflood resiliencereclamation, and use

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Where This Stands

Currently dead. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Last action
Died in Natural Resources & Disasters SubcommitteeMar 13, 2026
Lead sponsor
Bill Conerly

Procedural history

6 actions
  1. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  2. Dec 16, 2025House
    Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
  3. Dec 16, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  4. Dec 16, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Ways & Means Committee
  5. Dec 16, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
  6. Dec 9, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

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

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill changes the financial oversight and taxing authority of water management districts, potentially impacting local property tax rates and the transparency of large-scale environmental infrastructure projects.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Water management district governing boards

Must follow new quorum and voting requirements and adhere to stricter budget reporting and procurement rules.

Lobbyists and principals

Prohibited from making expenditures to district officials and subject to ethics investigations.

District taxpayers

Must vote in referendums to approve new ad valorem tax levies for capital improvement projects.

Construction contractors

Subject to new preference criteria for large-scale capital improvement projects.

What changed

Last recorded activity December 9, 2025.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

  • Water management districts in Florida are regional agencies responsible for water supply, flood protection, and environmental restoration. context

Summary

This bill updates how Florida's water management districts operate, including new ethics rules for lobbyists, stricter budget reporting requirements, and changes to how districts levy taxes and fund capital projects. It also mandates detailed financial reporting for Everglades restoration projects and establishes new procurement preferences for large-scale construction.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my property taxes change?
The bill allows districts to levy new es for capital projects, but only if approved by a majority of voters in a referendum.
What are the new rules for lobbyists?
Lobbyists are prohibited from making any expenditures to district board members or certain employees, and the Commission on Ethics is empowered to investigate violations.
How does this affect Everglades restoration?
The South Florida Water Management District must provide more detailed financial and progress reporting, including estimated remaining costs and performance indicators for all project components.

Why It Matters

The bill changes the financial oversight and taxing authority of water management districts, potentially impacting local property tax rates and the transparency of large-scale environmental infrastructure projects.

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 →

Sponsors

Discoveries

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

policy shift90% confidence

Increased Legislative Oversight

The bill shifts power from local water management districts to the state legislature and the Legislative Budget Commission regarding budget approval and land purchases.

Legislative Budget CommissionWater management districts

Connected Entities

date2026-01-13“first reading of the bill”Map →
organizationState Affairs Committee“reviewing the bill”Map →
date2025-12-16“bill was referred to committees”Map →
date2025-12-09“bill was filed”Map →
organizationNatural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee“reviewing the bill”Map →
organizationWays & Means Committee“reviewing the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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