Holding Florida Lawmakers Accountable

2026 Session: January 13 – March 13

Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session just passed its midpoint, and things are heating up. Big Sugar is pushing a bill to silence citizens, developers are trying to steam-roll growth management, and “emergency” spending by Gov. DeSantis is under the microscope.

Join Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart with special guest Travis Moore, Friends of the Everglades Governmental Affairs Consultant, as they break down what lawmakers are proposing, the key threats and opportunities ahead, and the priorities shaping our work to protect Florida’s environmental future.

Tune in from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, via Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for this live discussion, with opportunity for Q&A.

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The annual 60-day session of the Florida Legislature is set to begin in Tallahassee on January 13, and the onslaught of bad bills has already begun. But with vigilance and accountability, we can meet this moment head-on.

Join Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart on January 12 for a LIVE session preview as they unpack what lawmakers are proposing, what threats and opportunities lie ahead and the priorities guiding our fight to protect Florida’s environmental future.

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🎉 Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples is here to share BIG news for Florida’s state parks!

The Florida House just UNANIMOUSLY passed the State Park Preservation Act and it’s now headed for Gov. DeSantis’ desk. We need him to sign it into law!

This bill includes strong protections that:
🚫 Ban golf courses, pickleball courts, hotel-style lodges and other harmful development in our parks
✅ Keep beloved places like Jonathan Dickinson and Anastasia State Park safe for future generations

Friends of the Everglades worked behind the scenes to help make this bill stronger — and your voices helped get it across the finish line. 💪

Now, we celebrate! Then we get back to work to keep the pressure on Gov. DeSantis to ensure that he signs it into law! 🌿

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We’re halfway through Florida’s 2025 legislative session. Deals are being made, bills are advancing and in some cases, bad bills are getting worse. So where do we stand on the state parks front, and what’s really happening behind the scenes? Friends of the Everglades has been keeping a close watch on the most critical bills so you know what’s at risk — and what you can do about it.

REGISTER NOW to join Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart LIVE at noon on April 15 as they check in on progress and setbacks at the halfway point of this session.

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Friends of the Everglades traveled to Tallahassee with the Everglades Coalition for Everglades Action Day on April 8, 2025, where we met with lawmakers and testified at the House State Affairs Committee in support of amendments to HB 209.

For these Florida state parks protections to become law, SB 80 must pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, set for discussion on April 15.

Stay up to date on Florida's annual legislative session at everglades.org/legislative-accountability.

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The Florida legislature will reconvene in Tallahassee for its annual 60-day session on March 4, 2025. As always, bad bills are on the horizon — but so are opportunities. The big looming question is whether our state parks will be protected from damaging development. So far, a pair of state park bills fall short of what’s needed.

Mark your calendars to join Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart noon-1 p.m. on February 28 during a live pre-session update.

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