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Panel approves bill to clarify water-quality credits and WQEAs for stormwater compliance

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources · January 13, 2026
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Summary

CS for SB 848, with an adopted amendment, clarified how Water Quality Enhancement Areas can serve stormwater rule requirements and sought to define permanent water-quality credits versus temporary allocations; industry witnesses backed the amendment to create a more reliable credit market.

Senator Truenow explained CS for SB 848 as a measure to clarify the legal meaning of water-quality credits tied to Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs) and to distinguish permanent, measured, financially secured mitigation credits from other stormwater allocations. The bill aims to provide certainty to ERP applicants and to align the credit market with mitigation banking concepts.

Amendment barcode 453862 was presented to allow WQEAs to provide solutions in connection with new stormwater rule requirements while DEP completes rulemaking; it also revises review of projects on public lands to be forward-looking. Holly Heidemans, government relations director for Resource Environmental Solutions (Rez), testified in support, saying HB 965 (2022) created WQEAs and the amendment strengthens market clarity to ensure verifiable ecological outcomes.

Rusty Payton of the Florida Home Builders Association waived in support. Senator Truenow closed; the committee adopted the amendment and reported CS for SB 848 favorably.

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