Legislative session winds down;

last-second drama for state parks bill

We’re in what was supposed to be the final week of the Florida legislative session, but as of this writing the House and Senate budget proposals were still billions apart. That means the session will either be extended, or legislators could be sent home, then recalled for a special budget session before the fiscal year ends June 30.

The good news this session:

Not all the bad bills passed. The bad news: Some did.

And some remained in limbo. That includes the Senate State Parks bill, SB 80, which was temporarily postponed Tuesday but was back on the Senate floor on Wednesday, where the Senate took up the (better, more protective) language in the House bill, HB 209. A relatively minor amendment was proposed and adopted, the Senate passed the bill and it then went back to the House, which was expected to approve it either Wednesday evening or on Thursday.

Once that happens — and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the legislation — our parks will have more robust protections than before. And that will be a good thing.

What else happened as this session wound down? Check out our latest blog post on VoteWater.org for the rundown.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Sick sawfish are back; but why?

News reports in recent weeks have pointed to a new spate of sick sawfish, with three more turning up dead in recent weeks in the Keys. Since December, state wildlife say they’ve gotten 50 reports of distressed sawfish.

Something frightening is still going on — and we still don’t know exactly why it’s happening.

“At the height of the event,” reported WLRN, “scientists detected the tiny algae Gambierdiscus at elevated levels and suspect that triggered the neurological disorder exhibited by the fish.”

But later in the same article we read that “Gambierdiscus has not been found at high levels this winter” — suggesting that either Gambierdiscus isn’t the culprit, or it isn’t the culprit for this latest round of problems.

Experts are saying the new round of sick fish is cause for concern, but not alarm. Still, until we can pinpoint the cause, we can’t formulate an effective response. And sawfish may continue to spin, and die, all the while.

Rock mine update: Hearing May 22

The Palm Beach County Commissioners' hearing on the (de)merits of mining limestone on 8,600 acres south of Lake Okeechobee next to the EAA Reservoir will be held on Thursday, May 22.

Applicant Phillips & Jordan, and landowners U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals, are sure to turn out their minions in an attempt to convince commissioners to vote "yes" on the proposal, which involves digging out limestone over the course of several decades, then turning the pits into water storage. Theoretically.

But there are many questions that haven't yet been answered. The project doesn't yet have a permit from the Florida DEP, and while the South Florida Water Management District has said the site MIGHT be suitable for a water resource project as promised by the proponents, the district hasn't yet fully vetted the proposal.

Politically, though, there are indications the Governor's office has taken an interest in this project. That could add to the pressure on Palm Beach County officials to give it the green light. And unfortunately, as we detail in our Dirty Money database, six of the seven Palm Beach County Commissioners have taken campaign cash from Big Sugar or the broader agricultural industry - indicating they may be inclined to view this proposal favorably

It'll be up to us — and you — to bring the heat on May 22. More updates and tips on what you can do to make a difference as we get closer to the date.

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ICYMI: The lobbyist on the SFWMD board

Scott Wagner, who represents Miami-Dade County on the South Florida Water Management District, is an attorney with a boutique law firm headquartered in Miami. He’s tight with Gov. Ron DeSantis.

And he’s a lobbyist, employed by Ballad Partners, one of the most powerful firms in the state capital.

It doesn’t appear Wagner lobbies on water management district issues. But can a person whose job is to represent corporate interests be an impartial public servant? We take a closer look on our website.