Topic: Pets and Livestock

SB 1516 by Sen. Charlie Dean was scheduled to get its first vote on Thursday but was temporarily postponed while comments are received on a new version of the bill. The draft language includes what the Sierra Club says would be a prohibition on stronger local fertilizer ordinances. "We are decidedly not happy about that," said a club spokesman.

Testing now can help determine which types of animals are the sources of bacteria and associated pathogens. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection says it plans to use the advanced testing to help identify and reduce sources of pollution in waterways. ... Related Research: DEP beach water testing announcement, and a letter from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

Cat colonies and coal ash, fracking and fertilizer. The 2013 legislative session was surprisingly active on the environmental front with old battles being waged and new issues emerging. Some issues will still be fought out in the weeks ahead as groups seek vetoes of bills that were passed. But compromise reigned on other issues as old adversaries united in the end to advance legislation.

This week we learned that House Speaker Will Weatherford says if state employee pension changes aren't approved this year, they will come back again, and that Gov. Rick Scott is on the lookout for lawmakers' special projects as he advocates for his priorities.

SB 1320 provides that the capture and release of cats as part of a program to vaccinate and sterilize animals is not an illegal release of the animals under state law. Supporters say the bill will help reduce the overpopulation of stray cats but opponents say it could lead to more dumping of animals that prey on wildlife and cause problems for landowners.

The rewrite removes bill language saying that pollution will not be "deemed to cause or contribute to any violation of water quality standards in the Everglades Protection Area if the discharge is in compliance with applicable permits and any associated orders." ... Related Research: Delete All Amendment on HB 7065, and Delete All Amendment on SB 0768.

Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee rejected environmentalists arguments against HB 7065. Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg said after the meeting that the bill is a "done deal" in the House and the Senate is more receptive to his side's arguments.

Environmental groups and Gov. Rick Scott said they support a Senate bill that doesn't address a tax on sugar farms in the Everglades Agricultural Area. "Let's not rush into something without spending the quality time to understand why the protecting the water supply for 7.5 million Floridians is so important," Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg said. ... Related Research: Meeting materials and video, and a press release from the Everglades Foundation & Audubon Florida.

The House State Affairs Committee on Thursday will consider a proposed committee bill that would extend a tax on sugar farms and declare that "best management" farming practices meet requirements in the state constitution. Audubon Florida criticized the bill while sugar farmers blasted the group, saying it was issuing "big lies." ... Related Research: Audubon Florida Everglades action alert, and Sugar farmers response.

The Everglades Foundation boosted its eight-member lobbying corps in 2012 to 14 members to monitor Everglades legislation and support the governor's request for $60 million for restoration projects, a spokesman said. But a representative of sugar farmers said the foundation appears to be gearing up for a policy fight. ... Related Research: Everglades and Sugar Registered Lobbyists for 2012 & 2013, and 2013 Session Outlook: Environment and Natural Resources.

Everglades restoration, environmental permitting and alternative water supplies are expected to be hot topics this session. Audubon Florida's Eric Draper says environmentalists need to get out of their defensive mode and learn to educate legislators.

Representatives of county governments that formed a regional compact say funding also is needed for water supply projects, beach and Everglades restoration to help communities adapt. ... Related Research: S.E. Fla. Regional Climate Change Compact presentation, meeting agenda and video.

Sugar industry representatives and environmental groups have said they expect the Everglades Forever Act to be revisited by the Legislature in the wake of Gov. Rick Scott's Everglades restoration plan having been approved by federal agencies in 2012.

Gov. Rick Scott's $74.2 billion budget request includes $75 million for conservation land-buying, $60 million for Everglades restoration, $135 million for cleaning up petroleum contamination sites and $25 million for beach restoration projects. ... Related Research: Feb. 7, 2013 House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee meeting materials.