Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026

Byron Donalds

Republican · FL · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Brian J. Mast (R-FL-21)Original· 2026-05-22
• Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23)Original· 2026-05-22
• Mike Haridopolos (R-FL-8)Original· 2026-05-22
• Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16)Original· 2026-05-22

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-05-22

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would allow a federal agency to follow a biological opinion (an expert assessment about how a project might affect endangered species) and have that automatically count as meeting the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, without needing additional environmental reviews. The change would streamline the approval process for certain agency actions, likely affecting infrastructure projects and development that could impact wildlife. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Transportation and Natural Resources committees to determine which parts each should handle.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9017 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9017 To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 22, 2026 Mr. Donalds (for himself, Mr. Mast, Mr. Moskowitz, Mr. Haridopolos, and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. COMPLIANCE WITH BIOLOGICAL OPINION RELATED TO DREDGE AND FILL PERMITTING PROGRAM. (a) In General.--For purposes of the Agency Action-- (1) the Biological Opinion is deemed to be compliant with, and compliance with the Biological Opinion is deemed to be compliance with, the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and (2) no additional consultation under section 7(a) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)) is required. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Agency action.--The term ``Agency Action''-- (A) means the approval by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency of the request of the State of Florida for the assumption by the State of Florida of the administration and permitting of a State permit program under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), as described in the notice published by the Environmental Protection Agency titled ``EPA's Approval of Florida's Clean Water Act Section 404 Assumption Request'' (December 22, 2020; 85 Fed. Reg. 83553); and (B) includes other activities. (2) Biological opinion.--The term ``Biological Opinion''-- (A) means the programmatic biological opinion issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service titled ``Programmatic Biological Opinion for Environmental Protection Agency's Approval of FDEP's Assumption of the Administration of the Dredge and Fill Permitting Program under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act'' (dated November 17, 2020; FWS Log #: 04E00000- 2021-F-0001; 04E00000-2021-B-0001); and (B) includes the incidental take statement described in pages 69 through 73 of the programmatic biological opinion. (3) Other activities.--The term ``other activities'' has the meaning given the term in the glossary of the Biological Opinion. <all>

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