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SB 354FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026dead
High Impact

Proposed 'Blue Ribbon Projects' Land Development Framework

Original title: Blue Ribbon Projects

March 13, 2026

land usehousingenvironmental conservationzoningeconomic developmentrelations

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The Frame

What this does

This bill would have allowed landowners of 15,000+ contiguous acres to bypass standard local zoning and comprehensive plan requirements in exchange for setting aside 60% of the land for conservation and including affordable or 'missing middle' housing.

Who is mentioned in the record

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

Large landowners

Landowners with 15,000+ contiguous acres would have been eligible to apply for the Blue Ribbon Project designation to alter land use and zoning.

Local governments

Local governments would have been required to process Blue Ribbon plan applications and incorporate them into their comprehensive plans.

Environmental conservation groups

These groups would be affected by the requirement to set aside 60 percent of project land for conservation and wildlife corridors.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

  • The bill was part of the 2026 Florida legislative session and underwent multiple committee substitutions before failing to pass. context

Summary

SB 354 would have created a new 'Blue Ribbon Project' designation for large-scale land developments of at least 15,000 acres, allowing for mixed-use communities with specific environmental and housing requirements. The bill established a framework for local governments to approve these projects, including long-term master plans and density incentives, but the legislation died on the calendar in March 2026.

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

What is a 'Blue Ribbon Project'?
It is a proposed land development designation for large, contiguous tracts of at least 15,000 acres that balance residential/commercial development with significant environmental conservation.
What is 'missing middle' housing?
A range of housing types including duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and small multifamily buildings that bridge the gap between single-family homes and large apartment complexes.
Did this bill pass?
No, the bill died on the legislative calendar on March 13, 2026.

Why It Matters

This bill would have allowed landowners of 15,000+ contiguous acres to bypass standard local zoning and comprehensive plan requirements in exchange for setting aside 60% of the land for conservation and including affordable or 'missing middle' housing.

News Coverage

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

Voting Record

Motion succeededupper3/3/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Total

22

Yes

12

No

10

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededupper2/12/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Total

12

Yes

8

No

4

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededupper1/13/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Total

8

Yes

7

No

1

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

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

policy shift100% confidence

Preemption of Local Zoning

The bill sought to create a state-level framework that would override local comprehensive plans and zoning regulations for qualifying large-scale projects.

Local governments

Connected Entities

otherFlorida Hometown Hero Program“Program referenced for housing affordability requirements.”Map →
organizationDepartment of Agriculture and Consumer Services“Agency that would receive conservation easements under the proposed bill.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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