New Rules for Stormwater Treatment and Water Quality Credits

Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/SB 848. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

18 actions

Feb 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
CS Filed
Feb 27, 2026House
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
Feb 27, 2026House
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
Feb 26, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
Feb 24, 2026House
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
Feb 17, 2026House
Now in State Affairs Committee

Show 12 earlier actions

Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroduced
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroduced
CS Filed
Feb 16, 2026House
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
Feb 16, 2026House
Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable with CS by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
Feb 10, 2026House
Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda
Jan 15, 2026House
Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
Jan 15, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
Jan 15, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
Jan 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
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 and regulatory requirements for developers and local governments seeking to manage stormwater runoff, potentially increasing the cost of compliance while standardizing the use of 's' and 's' to meet state water quality standards.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Property developers

They must meet new financial responsibility requirements and may use new credit mechanisms to satisfy stormwater permit criteria.

Seaports

Certain seaports face restrictions on using non-local governmental entities for stormwater treatment and enhancement credits.

Department of Environmental Protection

The agency is tasked with adopting new rules, issuing provisional permits, and managing annual reporting of mitigation donations.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 9, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill updates how Florida manages stormwater treatment and water quality s, requiring stricter financial oversight for regional systems and standardizing how developers can offset environmental impacts. It mandates that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopt new rules by October 1, 2026, and establishes new financial responsibility requirements for regional stormwater management systems.

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

The bill changes the financial and regulatory requirements for developers and local governments seeking to manage stormwater runoff, potentially increasing the cost of compliance while standardizing the use of 's' and 's' to meet state water quality standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'regional stormwater management system'?

It is a method of designed to collect, store, and treat stormwater to prevent flooding and water pollution within a specific drainage area.

How will this affect developers?

Developers may be required to provide more detailed financial documentation and may be able to purchase 's' or 's' to meet state performance standards.

What happens to existing mitigation projects?

The bill includes provisions for provisional permits and ensures that s used under those permits continue to be recognized even after final rules are adopted.

News Coverage

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

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse2/26/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable With Committee Substitute (State Affairs Committee)

Total

48

Yes

43

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

5

Abstain

0

How they voted (48)

+ 24 more

Motion succeededhouse2/12/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable With Committee Substitute (Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee)

Total

24

Yes

19

No

1

Present

0

Not Voting

4

Abstain

0

How they voted (24)

Full roll-call analysis →

Discoveries

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

policy shift90% confidence

Full Cost Accounting for Mitigation

The bill mandates that cash donations for wetland mitigation must cover the 'full cost' of the project, including overhead, which is a shift toward stricter fiscal accountability for environmental offsets.

Department of Environmental Protection

Connected Entities

organizationState Affairs Committee“Committee responsible for final review”Map →

otherRule 7.18(a)“Legislative rule regarding laying bills on the table”Map →

otherCS“Committee Substitute”Map →

organizationNatural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee“Committee responsible for initial review”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level