Brian Bradner, deputy secretary for land and recreation at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, told the Senate Committee on Agriculture that Florida Forever has accelerated acquisitions and that most recent purchases fall inside the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

"Florida Forever is the state's premier conservation and recreation land acquisition program," Bradner said, summarizing the program's purpose and process and noting that the Florida Forever Act was passed in 2000 and implemented on July 1, 2001.

Bradner said since January 2019 the state has invested more than $1.4 billion in Florida Forever and acquired more than 374,000 acres, about 91% of which lie inside the wildlife corridor. He told the committee that in calendar year 2024 the program completed 99 transactions totaling 68,764 acres for just over $321 million and that for 2025 the program had already closed 84 transactions totaling 79,387 acres and expended about $286 million.

Bradner explained Florida Forever acquisitions proceed after project proposals are submitted to the Division of State Lands, ranked by the Acquisition and Restoration Council, and included in the annual work plan approved by the governor and cabinet. He said acquisitions above $5,000,000 require governor and cabinet approval.

Bradner highlighted recent openings and milestones: a new Sandy Creek State Forest (12,262 acres in Bay County) pending public opening, a 74‑acre expansion for Catfish Creek Preserve State Park in Polk County and a newly acquired 2,480‑acre state park in Walton County. He also noted the program recorded its 200th conservation easement protecting 364,117 acres under Florida Forever.

Committee members asked about funding and timelines. When a senator pointed to the 2025–2026 appropriation slide showing $18 million, Bradner said the department has more projects than available funding and that the approved work plan currently contains 60 projects; he said program projects currently exceed available funding and that the department is spending appropriated dollars as projects move to closing.

County officials and senators used the DEP presentation to press questions about local fiscal impacts when land is removed from the tax rolls. Chris Doolin, representing the Florida Association of Counties (Small Counties), urged the committee to examine payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILT) funding; he told senators the statewide PILT appropriation of about $2.1 million may be insufficient to meet county obligations created when conserved land leaves taxable rolls.

Senator Roe cited Glades County figures supplied to the committee, noting the county's annual tax‑exempt total is about $5 million and that county PILT receipts were less than $300,000—creating a sizable local funding differential when land is conserved.

Bradner said the department notifies counties when projects in their jurisdiction are being considered and offered to follow up on specific PILT questions. He also said that acquisitions over $5 million require approval by the governor and cabinet, and that DEP will continue to present projects from the 60‑project work plan as funding and approvals allow.

Ending

DEP described Florida Forever as a statewide, multi‑tool conservation program operating with both conservation easements and fee‑title acquisitions; committee members and county officials asked the department to provide more information about PILT funding and county fiscal impacts. No committee votes or formal decisions were recorded during the hearing.