Executive Orders

Ron DeSantis

Protecting our state’s water and natural resources is key to ensuring a bright future for Florida. Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, coupled with the support of the Florida Legislature and the signing of two Executive Orders (19-12 and 23-06), Florida has an ambitious environmental agenda along with historic levels of funding. 

Signed by Governor DeSantis less than 48 hours after taking office in January of 2019, Executive Order 19-12 directed strategic action with a focus on accountability, transparency, and collaboration with over $3.3 billion in funding to protect our natural resources. Governor DeSantis’ commitment to Florida’s environment was strengthened with the passing of Executive Order 23-06 (Achieving Even More Now for Florida’s Environment) in January of 2023 to further protect Florida’s natural resources by securing historic funding of $3.5 billion over the next four years to protect water resources and rejuvenate. 

In May 2023, Governor DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 1379, which enhances protections for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), expands the existing wastewater grant program, strengthens Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), improves local government long-term comprehensive planning and creates dedicated funding for the state’s land conservation efforts.

Florida is seeing incredible momentum for environmental protection to ensure our natural resources can be enjoyed for generations to come. 

Download Executive Order 19-12 Download Executive Order 23-06

Florida Is Working To Rapidly Improve Water Quality As Evidenced By The Following Actions:

  • Creation of a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, which is focused on expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs), now and over the next five years.
  • Re-organizing and funding the Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, also known as the Red Tide Task Force, to focus on the causes of red tide and complement the efforts of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force and the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative.
  • Prioritizing projects that will help reduce damaging freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee and pursuing the federal government’s unfulfilled commitment of an additional $200 million annually for Everglades restoration.
  • Creating grant programs to help communities gain better access to water supplies and also facilitate septic tank improvement and replacement projects.

Changes At DEP Are Enhancing Effectiveness Through Collaboration And Transparency:

  • We appointed a Chief Science Officer to lead scientific research and analyze needs to address the state’s most pressing environmental concerns.
  • The Environmental Crimes Enforcement Unit moved from FWC to DEP to align resources focused on protection and ensure strong enforcement of Florida’s environmental laws.
  • A new Office of Environment Accountability and Transparency was created and charged with ensuring key water quality objectives are clearly communicated to the public.

The Governor Has Directed DEP To Protect Florida’s Valuable And Vulnerable Coastlines, Including:

  • Creating an Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection and appointing a chief resilience officer to ensure Florida’s coastal communities are fully aware of and prepared for the impacts of sea level rise.
  • Protecting Florida coastal communities and natural resources by opposing offshore oil and gas activities off the coast in Florida, as well as hydraulic fracturing.