[Policy] SB 1084 update + thank you
Valerie Anderson • February 13, 2024
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Saturday, July 26th 10am-12pm The Florida Native Plant Society holds a members meeting once a year. All FNPS members are invited to participate. We provide a year in review and announce grant awards, Palmetto Awards for members and vote on new officers. A link to register has been emailed to all members. Please contact us if you are a member in good standing and have not received a link (info@fnps.org & 321-271-6702) AgendaOPENING REMARKS Introduction by President Eugene KellyOLD BUSINESS Approve the 2024 Annual Member Meeting MinutesNEW BUSINESS Introduction of New FNPS Executive Director (Eugene Kelly)Remarks from the Executive Director (Melissa Fernandez de-Cespedes)Update on the Council of Chapters (Past-Chair: Melanie Simon)COMMITTEE REPORTSConservation Committee (Chair: John Benton)Science Committee and Research Grants (Chair: Paul Schmalzer)Finance Committee (Chair: Ann Redmond)Landscape Committee (Chair: Natalia Manrique)Policy & Legislation Committee (Chair: Eugene Kelly)Education Committee (Chair: Andrea Andersen, Presented by Susan Earley)Conference Committee (Chair: Athena Phillips)Announcement of FNPS Awards (Melissa Fernandez de-Cespedes)Silver Palmetto Awards (Eugene Kelly)VOTE FOR FNPS OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORSOverview of FNPS Board Nominees and membership vote (Chair: Chris Moran)Motion to adjourn (Eugene Kelly)2024 MinutesReview them here.
On Monday seventy-three businesses and organizations, including the Florida Native Plant Society, representing every corner of the state sent a letter urging Florida legislators to prioritize certain conservation land acquisition, water quality protection, and resiliency funding during the 2025 legislative session that began Tuesday.We have eight major asks:$500M to Florida ForeverSeparate funding for the Rural & Family Lands Program$30M to the Florida Communities TrustProper supplemental use of Indian Gaming Compact $$$Everglades Restoration$150M for springs restorationCease funding coastal armoring & instead fund Resilient FloridaRepair soon-to-fail wastewater infrastructureRead the full letter here.
A coalition of 70 conservation organizations, including both the Florida Native Plant Society and the Ixia Chapter of FNPS submitted this letter to the lead sponsors of Senate Bill 80 and House Bill 209. Known as the State Parks Preservation Act, the legislation is intended to prevent future attacks on our State Parks – attacks like the one last fall that sparked so much public outrage across Florida.We all appreciate Senator Harrell filing SB08 and Senator Bradley’s co-sponsorship, and Representative Snyder’s sponsorship of the companion bill in the House. The coalition has shared recommended language with the legislation’s sponsors that would more explicitly prohibit such uses as golf courses and hotels, and provide additional guidance to prevent other incompatible uses or developments that would commercialize or materially disturb the resources protected within our Parks.“We just don’t want to be back here again next year, the year after, fighting the same battle, we just suggest that there should be a much-clearer statement on prohibitions of incompatible uses.” -FNPS President Eugene Kelly in the Orlando Sentinel, 2025-02-11, speaking to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
