Legislature shuns refined ‘Safe Waterways Act’ a year after Gov. DeSantis veto

Lawmakers approved legislation last year to create a statewide system to alert localities and issue public bathing water closures after harmful contamination.

Gov. Ron DeSantis then vetoed the bill, called the “Safe Waterways Act.” He said it suffered from a “fatal infirmity” because it granted the Department of Health authority to supersede cities and counties on beach operations.

The bill’s South Florida sponsors, Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, refiled the measure this year with refined language giving the Department of Environmental Protection the authority, which it has for other matters.

The new legislation hasn’t received a hearing.

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics