Senate panel hears DeSantis administration’s environmental budget: $1.4B for water, questions about conservation funding
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Summary
Administration officials told the Senate appropriations panel the governor’s "Floridians First" budget directs roughly $1.4 billion to water resources — including $810 million for Everglades work — while senators pressed agencies on Florida Forever funding, park infrastructure, and targeted agency cuts.
Tallahassee — Officials from the DeSantis administration presented the environmental portion of the governor’s "Floridians First" budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, outlining roughly $5.8 billion in environmental spending within a $117.4 billion proposed state budget and answering senators’ questions about conservation and park infrastructure.
Kim Kramer, environmental policy coordinator for Governor Ron DeSantis, opened the presentation and said the environmental silo comprises about 5% of the recommended budget. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert described the administration’s priorities in detail: the budget recommends more than $1.4 billion to protect Florida’s water resources, including $810 million for Everglades restoration and project acceleration. Of that, Lambert said roughly $600.7 million supports the comprehensive Everglades restoration plan and about $586 million would fully fund the state portion of a Central Everglades planning project. The administration also proposes $408 million for targeted water‑quality improvements and $202 million for resilience programs, including $75 million for beach renourishment.
Kramer and Lambert said most environmental agencies are largely trust‑funded and that the distribution of environmental spending in the governor’s proposal allocates about 41% to DEP, 47% to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and about 10% to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC priorities identified by Kramer include $10 million for law‑enforcement operations, $9 million for boating improvements, $12 million for manatee care (including $3 million for seagrass restoration), $2 million for python removal, and $30 million for oyster‑reef restoration (with $25 million for Apalachicola Bay).
During questioning, Vice Chair Berman pressed why the governor’s recommended amount for Florida Forever appeared lower than a statutory target. Agency staff and Secretary Lambert clarified that the governor’s recommendation includes a $150 million set‑aside across land‑conservation programs and that $100 million in the recommendation would be allocated specifically for the Florida Forever program. Berman also raised park infrastructure needs, referencing roughly $75 million to address failing wastewater and septic systems; Lambert said $70 million is proposed for state park infrastructure and that sewer projects will be phased in where appropriate and feasible.
Other members flagged a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute within an otherwise increased FWC budget; Lambert said she would check the specific figures and follow up. The administration’s presenters closed by saying they look forward to working with the committee as the legislature considers the budget.
The committee moved on to general‑government presentations after the environmental session concluded.
