Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026. It deals with compliance under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for a specific agency action. The bill states that following a certain biological opinion counts as full compliance with the Endangered Species Act. It also means that no extra consultation under section 7(a) of that Act is needed. The agency action involves the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator approving Florida's request to run its own state permit program under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The biological opinion mentioned is a programmatic one issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill empowers the State of Florida to assume control of the federal dredge and fill permit program.
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Business owners in construction and development will benefit from a more streamlined permitting process.
- Scored +2
Would farmers be better off under this?
Farmers managing water and drainage in Florida may find permitting easier under state administration.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill explicitly transfers administration and permitting authority from the federal government to the State of Florida.
- Scored -4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill removes the requirement for additional consultation under the Endangered Species Act, potentially reducing environmental oversight.
- Scored -2
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
By streamlining ESA compliance, the bill may limit the scrutiny of how public lands and waters are managed.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(1): This section dictates that following the biological opinion is considered full compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This could be viewed as positive because it provides clear rules for the EPA's approval of Florida running its own dredge and fill permitting program.
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Section 2(a)(2): This part removes the need for any additional consultation under section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act. This might be seen as a positive benefit by streamlining the administrative process for the agency action without requiring extra steps.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(1): Because compliance with the biological opinion is automatically deemed to meet all requirements of the Endangered Species Act, some might consider this a negative. It could mean that standard protections or reviews under the Act are bypassed for the specified agency action.
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Section 2(a)(2): This provision explicitly states that no additional consultation under section 7(a) of the Endangered Species Act is required. This could be viewed as a negative outcome by individuals who want ongoing or further environmental reviews before the state permit program moves forward.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Business owners in construction and development will benefit from a more streamlined permitting process. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers managing water and drainage in Florida may find permitting easier under state administration.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Easier permitting for dredge and fill can accelerate water-related infrastructure projects. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill removes the requirement for additional consultation under the Endangered Species Act, potentially reducing environmental oversight. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — By streamlining ESA compliance, the bill may limit the scrutiny of how public lands and waters are managed.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Streamlined permitting for dredge and fill operations can facilitate faster infrastructure and development projects. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Reduced regulatory hurdles for permitting can benefit small businesses involved in construction and land development.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill empowers the State of Florida to assume control of the federal dredge and fill permit program. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill explicitly transfers administration and permitting authority from the federal government to the State of Florida.
- 9/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 6/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/22/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Vern BuchananRepublican · Florida
Mike HaridopolosRepublican · Florida
Laurel LeeRepublican · Florida
Brian MastRepublican · Florida
Jared MoskowitzDemocrat · Florida
Jimmy PatronisRepublican · Florida
W. SteubeRepublican · Florida
Daniel WebsterRepublican · Florida