Author: Elf

Florida Senate Bill 552, also known as the “Comprehensive Water Bill,” was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016. This law is a big deal because it’s the most important environmental law in more than ten years. It will have a lasting impact on how the state manages its water resources. The law…

Climate change has been getting a lot of attention lately, but there is a long history of laws and regulations about it that many people don’t know about. International strategies are really important for solving the problem. Climate change is affecting our local area with things like flooding and changes to habitats and species. It’s…

Florida is facing a big problem with its water resources. The legislature wants to make sure that the water is used sustainably. There are some conservation and restoration projects, but they take a long time and a lot of money. Private lands are also regulated to protect water resources, but there are limits to what…

CERCLA was a law passed in 1980 to address contaminated sites that posed a serious threat to public health and the environment. Since then, technology and our understanding of chemicals in the environment have improved, allowing for more efficient and protective standards. Florida law has adapted to these improvements, using Risk-Based Corrective Action to address…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has the authority to issue permits for dredging and filling in the waters of the United States. This can cause delays for projects that also need a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A new law, H.B. 7043, could allow the state of Florida to take over…

The laws around climate change and rising sea levels are always changing. The government is working on new rules to reduce greenhouse gases and deal with climate change. There are also court cases about things like property rights and flood damage. The public trust doctrine is being used to make the government do something about…

In Florida, floods are a big risk because of the low elevation and being surrounded by water. Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg are ranked as some of the most vulnerable cities in the world. But in Florida, there are no laws requiring sellers or landlords to tell buyers or renters about the risk of floods. This…

The Clean Water Act 404 governs activities that put dirt or other materials into U.S. waters. In Florida and most other states, you need permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for these activities. But Florida is trying to take over the permitting process from the federal…

Governor DeSantis turned down a law that would have changed the way people with solar panels get paid for their extra energy. The big utility companies wanted this law because they say it’s not fair for non-solar customers. But the governor said no because people are already struggling with high prices, and this law would…

Florida passed a new law to improve water quality by creating special areas called water quality enhancement areas (WQEAs). These areas are natural systems that help treat stormwater to protect water quality. When it rains, stormwater picks up pollutants and flows into ponds where it is treated. Over time, the ponds fill up with sediment,…

The DEP made new rules to make stormwater cleaner, but it will cost a lot of money. People agree that water quality needs to improve, but they disagree on how to do it and how much it will cost. Florida passed the Clean Waterways Act in 2020 to address pollution from stormwater, which can be…

Mangroves are important for protecting Florida’s waters and ecosystem, but they weren’t regulated until 1984. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has some guidelines, but there haven’t been many updates to the laws since 1996. So, it’s a bit unclear how people can trim or change mangroves legally. Before 1984, local governments were in charge…

The star running back at State U. was a top college football player but got in trouble because his coach referred him to a shady sports agent. This caused him to lose his college eligibility and be picked later in the NFL draft, costing him lots of money. He sued the university, claiming they had…

In 1978, the Supreme Court approved using race to make college campuses more diverse. Four years ago, the Court said that in the future, using race in college admissions might not be needed. But in sports, there is still work to do to give opportunities to minority coaches. The NFL has a rule to make…

When you sign up for a website and have to say you’re over 13 or enter your birth date, it’s because of a law called COPPA. This law makes sure that websites can’t collect personal information from kids under 13 without their parents’ permission. There are also state laws, like CalOPPA in California, that protect…

In Florida, the community spouse of a Medicaid recipient can get a minimum monthly allowance of $1,295. But if they can prove they’re in a tough financial situation, they might be able to get more money through a fair hearing process or a court order. The maximum allowance is $1,919, but the court can decide…