Florida Policy Initiative

A Voice for Florida’s Sea Turtles

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has a long history of influencing state, federal and international policies that impact sea turtles and their habitats. STC places a special emphasis on the policy decisions made in Florida because, as the third-most populous state and a global diversity hotspot, the lawmaking decisions in Florida have wide-ranging impacts for marine life. Florida’s beaches are among the most important nesting grounds for threatened and endangered sea turtles in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, Florida’s vast sea grass beds, lagoons, estuaries and nearshore reefs are utilized by sea turtles during various stages of their life cycle. Through tireless effort and science-based education, STC has influenced numerous changes in policy for the benefit of Florida’s sea turtles.

Every year, the Florida Legislature, made up of 120 House members and 40 Senate members, convenes to pass legislation. STC closely monitors bills and policies that could positively or negatively impact Florida’s sea turtles and their habitats and, when necessary, calls upon its members and followers to contact legislators about these policies.

Policies to Watch

2025 Legislative Session

The 2025 Florida Legislative Session is taking place from March 4 to May 2. Our legislative priorities are focused on reducing the many threats that Florida’s sea turtles face, including: climate change and sea level rise, risky coastal development, plastic pollution, and degraded water quality and associated impacts to sea turtle food sources. Below are bills that STC is monitoring:

HB 565/SB 1822: Regulation of Auxiliary Containers (Representative Blanco and Senator Martin)
Last year, the Florida environmental community widely opposed and defeated SB 1126, a bill that would have prevented local governments from regulating single-use items (such as plastic bags or Styrofoam boxes) that pollute our environment. Unfortunately, that same bill is back as HB 565 in 2025. If this bill advances, we will again call upon our network to express their support of local government’s authority to reduce the flow of trash in their waterways.

Bill status: HB 565 passed through the Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee and now needs to pass through the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, and State Affairs Committee. SB 1822 is scheduled to be heard in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday, March 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo by Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program

SB 80/HB 209: State Land Management (Senator Harrell, Representative Snyder)
After Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection announced a plan last year to develop nine Florida State Parks – six of which include sea turtle nesting habitat – bipartisan outcry forced the Department to abandon the plan. SB 80/HB 209 is a rare good bill that intends to prevent a similar proposal from occurring in the future, but it needs to be strengthened to further protect all of Florida’s public lands. Amendments are needed to explicitly define what types of development are prohibited in our State Parks, take out vague terms, and more.

Bill status: SB 50 was approved in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 9-0. Remaining two stops are Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Committee and Fiscal Policy Committee.

Our Policy Initiatives

Stay Informed

To be informed and support STC’s policy initiatives, we suggest doing the following:

Check Back

Checking this page for up to date information on legislation and other topics that impact sea turtles and their habitats.

Sign Up

Signing up to receive Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Turtle Talk E-newsletter. You can subscribe using the form towards the bottom of the page

Monthly Donation

Supporting Sea Turtle Conservancy (If you prefer, you can make a monthly donation of $5 or more to support us throughout the year)

Make Your Voice Heard

How to Contact Florida’s Legislators

Florida residents and organizations can have the most influence by directly contacting legislators in their district. If you are unsure who your Florida Senator or Representative is, click the links below:

Find Florida Senators: https://www.flsenate.gov/senators/find

Find members of the Florida House Representative: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/findyourrepresentative

While sending an email about a bill or policy can be an effective way to reach a legislator, calling and stating your concerns is more effective, and attending committee meetings where bills will be considered and signing up to speak is even more effective.

How non-Floridians can help

People residing outside the state of Florida can still make a difference for sea turtles. If you are concerned about a bill or policy, please contact the relevant entity mentioned in each “action needed” section.

If you have additional questions about STC’s Policy Priorities, please email Stacey Gallagher at stacey@conserveturtles.org.