FL S0986

Exempts environmental restoration, enhancement, creation activities, and water quality improvements on agricultural lands (classified under s. 193.461) and government-owned lands from surface water management and storage regulations under Part IV of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes

Allows exempt measures or practices to alter land topography, including diverting or impeding water flow and impacting wetlands, provided the activities result in a net increase in wetland resource functions

Requires that resulting wetland habitat resemble a wetland habitat that exists in the region, such as herbaceous or forested wetlands

Removes the prior requirement that a water management district or the Department of Environmental Protection review each project on a case-by-case basis and determine it has minimal or insignificant adverse impact on state water resources before activities may commence

Prohibits use of this exemption to establish a mitigation bank or offsite regional mitigation area under ss. 373.4135 or 373.4136; effective date of July 1, 2024