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Become a Florida Springs Council Informed Member - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/informed-membership

Ryan Worthington can be found exploring Florida at: https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/

Find your Legislative Delegation Meetings - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/legislative session

Register for the Florida Springs Summit - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/summit

Florida Phoenix - Florida lawmakers recall what led to 60% threshold to pass constitutional amendments

Orlando Sentinel - How a utility’s silent spending to control energy policy might determine abortion rights in Florida

Joint Memo 1 - Response to Special Session

Joint Memo 2 - Legislature convening at 10:30 am Monday for Special Session

House Calendar Week of 1/27

Jason Garcia Artice on the Southland Water Resource Project (rock mine) https://jasongarcia.substack.com/p/records-show-big-sugar-lobbyists

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Become a Florida Springs Council Informed Member - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/informed-membership
Add your Instagram/Social Media Here

Find your Legislative Delegation Meetings - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/legislative session

Register for the Florida Springs Summit - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/summit

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

Senate Envir. & Nat. Resources Committee

House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

DEP Water Quality Presentation

Senate Calendar for week of 1/20House Calendar for week of 1/20

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This week we discuss the upcoming interim committee meetings and how they are important to conservation and water quality. Here is the list to pay attention to this week. If you can’t watch them, don’t worry we will discuss the highlights on the next episode. Also, District 42 Representative Anna V. Eskamani joins us to provide a valuable perspective about legislating and advocacy.

Senate

Tuesday 1/14 - 11 am - Agriculture Committee

• Presentation by DACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson
• Looking for any mention of surplus lands/best management practices

Tuesday 1/14 - 11 am - Environment and Natural Resources

• Presentation by DEP on progress in achieving water quality goals in BMAPs and other impaired waters
• Presentation by FDEP on implementation of the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program

Wednesday 1/15 - 1:00 pm - Approps. Committee on agriculture, environment, and general government

• Budget Review from FDEP, FDACS, FWC
• Program Review - FDACS - Agricultural Best Management Practices
• Program Review - FDEP - Alternative Water Supply, Water Quality, Resilient Florida, & Coastal Protection

House

• Tuesday 1/14 - 9:00 am - Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
• Panel Discussion with FDACS/DEP/FWC

Tuesday 1/14 - 3:30 pm - Natural Resources & Disasters

• Panel Discussion by local govs. Impacted by hurricanes

This week Ryan & Ryan share their personal lists of what was good & bad in 2024 as well as a "wish list" of what they would hope to see happen in 2025.

If you would like to also make a difference in the New Year attend the DEP Harm Rule hearings at 9:00 AM on January 6th, 2025 in Tallahassee or submit a comment. Details can be found at: https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/springsharmrule

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Become a Florida Springs Council Informed Member - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/informed-membership

Learn about Springs Water Quality Plans - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/springsbmaps

Learn about Springs Harm Rule Lawsuit - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/springsharmrule

Senate Bill 552 - https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/552

Florida Springs by Dr. Chris Meindl - https://upf.com/book.asp?id=9780813079158

Find your Legislative Delegation Meetings - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/legislativesession

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Downriver Project Who is Opposing the Apalachicola River Drilling

https://www.downriverproject.org/

The Apalachicola River Keeper who is suing to stop the exploratory drilling:

https://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/

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Bills discussed during the episode:

Senate Bill 50 - Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resiliency - https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/50

Senate Bill 56 - Weather Modification Activities - https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/56

Find your Legislative Delegation Meetings - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/legislativesession

Resource for seeing which Florida elected official is receiving contributions from industries associated with pollution:

Vote Water Dirty Money Project - https://votewater.org/dirty-money/

Releases of the speeches that we mentioned during the episode:

Senate President Ben Albritton Prepared Remarks - https://flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Offices/2024-2026/President/Documents/11_19_24_President_Ben_Albritton__x2019;s_Organization_Session_Remarks_as_Prepared_for_Delivery.pdf

House Speaker Daniel Perez Prepared Remarks - https://myfloridahouse.gov/api/document/house?listName=Press%20Releases&itemId=898

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Where to find your delegation meetings:

1000 Friends of Florida's Legislative Delegation Meeting Page - https://1000fof.org/upcoming-events/

FDACS Commissioner discussing his plan to sell off Florida Wildlife Corridor conservation lands:

Wilton Simpson Talking about Selling off Conservation Lands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEGCm7UiEjM&t=1455s

The bill that was filed to allow conservation lands to be sold and removing any public involvement from the process:

Senate Bill 1620 "Surplus Lands" - https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1620