SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-181

No. CS/HB 755

Areas of Critical State Concern
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SPONSOR
Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; Mooney
FILED BY
James Mooney — District 120, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Environment & Water.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Areas of Critical State Concern; Provides exemption from specified payment & performance bond requirements for specified entities; extends specific Florida Forever appropriations to be used for purchase of lands in Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Extends the no-drilling buffer near some estuarine reserves to 30 miles.

In a county that is both a rural area of opportunity and home to an area of critical state concern, oil and gas drilling is now barred within 30 miles of a national estuarine research reserve, three times the normal 10-mile buffer.

The Florida Forever program must keep spending at least $5 million a year on land acquisition in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern through the 2035-2036 fiscal year, nine years past the previous cutoff.

A public property owner may now waive the usual payment and performance bond for construction on land it leases to Habitat for Humanity or a local affiliate for 99 years or more within an area of critical state concern.

Waiving the bond does not leave contractors unprotected: they can still place a lien on the Habitat for Humanity leasehold itself, but the underlying publicly owned land stays off-limits to any lien.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Extends the drilling buffer to 30 miles in some counties majors. 377.24

AIIn a county that is both a designated rural area of opportunity and home to an area of critical state concern, oil and gas drilling is barred within 30 miles of a national estuarine research reserve, instead of the usual 10-mile buffer.

“the drilling, exploration, or production of oil, gas, or other petroleum products is prohibited within 30 miles of a national estuarine research reserve.” bill text, line 78 →
§ 2 Extends Florida Keys land-acquisition funding to 2035-2036 majors. 259.105

AIThe Florida Forever program must keep spending at least $5 million a year on land acquisition within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern, with the required window now running through the 2035-2036 fiscal year instead of ending in 2026-2027.

“continuing through the 2035-2036 fiscal year, at least $5 million of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph shall be spent on land acquisition”
§ 3 Lets public landowners waive construction bonds for Habitat projects majors. 255.05

AIA public entity that owns land in fee simple may exempt a builder from the usual payment and performance bond, at its own discretion, when the work is on property it has leased to Habitat for Humanity International or a local affiliate for 99 years or more within an area of critical state concern.

“A person may be exempted from executing the payment and performance bond required under this subsection if the following conditions are met” bill text, line 32 →
§ 4 Shields public land title from liens tied to the exempted work moderates. 255.05

AIEven without a bond, a contractor can still place a lien on the Habitat for Humanity leasehold interest itself, but the underlying property owned by the state or the local government cannot be reached by any lien created under chapter 713.

“owned by the state, or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or other public authority is not subject to any lien rights” bill text, line 44 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-181
6/30/2026
Approved by Governor
6/15/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/12/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 109, NAYS 0
3/12/2026
Amendment 408242 Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/10/2026
In Messages
3/10/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 743
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 743
3/10/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (408242) -SJ 742
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 742
3/10/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 934 -SJ 742
3/10/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/10/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 742
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/17/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/17/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/17/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
2/13/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/4/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/4/2026
Reported out of Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
2/4/2026
Favorable by Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
2/2/2026
Added to Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/21/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/21/2026
Now in Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/21/2026
Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
1/20/2026
CS Filed
1/20/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/20/2026
Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/20/2026
Favorable with CS by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/5/2026
Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Ways & Means Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Filed
42 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 255.05
+147 / −0
s. 259.105
+1 / −1
s. 377.24
+35 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES