Thanks to Reps. Kim Kendal, Allison Tant and Anna Eskamami. No more secretive land swaps, like the corrupt deal that Governor RONALD DION DeSANTIS tried, which would have stolen 600 acres of Guana River Wildlife Management Arwa. From Florida House of Representatives"
HB 441 - Conservation Lands
General Bill by Kendall and Tant (CO-SPONSORS) Eskamani
Conservation Lands: Requires Division of State Lands to publish certain information on its website before Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement Trust Fund meets to review proposed sale of conservation lands; requires that certain parcels proposed for exchange be appraised in accordance with certain criteria; removes provisions requiring division to submit certain requests to Acquisition & Restoration Council for review; removes provisions requiring division to provide certain recommendations to board; requires division to publish certain information on its website before council meets to review proposed land exchange; requires division to submit certain requests to council for review & requiring council to provide recommendations to division in certain circumstances; requires division to provide certain recommendations to board of trustees in certain circumstances; requires governing board of water management district to publish certain information on its website before meeting to review proposed sale or exchange of certain lands.
Effective Date: July 1, 2026
Why I Filed This Bill(by Representative Kendall): I want to ensure greater protection and transparency for our cherished natural resources, like the Guana River Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
Last June, we faced the alarming prospect of losing nearly 600 acres of this irreplaceable land to a developer with minimal notice and little transparency.
Since its establishment in 1983, the Guana River WMA has served as the heart of our region, akin to Central Park in New York—providing public access for hunting, fishing, paddling, and safeguarding critical wildlife, including gopher tortoises and over 81 bird species of “greatest conservation need.”
Thanks to the collective efforts of Floridians, we were able to stop this land swap, but it highlighted gaps in our laws.
This bill is designed to prevent similar threats in the future by requiring 30 days’ notice for land transactions, mandates to publish parcel appraisals, and calls for clear statements on what will be preserved and why certain lands are no longer deemed necessary for conservation. Our natural treasures must be safeguarded, and this bill will give Florida’s citizens the transparency and time they deserve to protect them.
Last Event: Filed on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 9:35 AM
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| Event | Time | Member | Committee | Ver. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Filed | 11/18/2025 - 9:35 AM | Kendall | __ |
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