Bill Passed by Legislature Would Prevent New Fertilizer Restrictions

TALLAHASSEE  Senate Bill 2502, passed by the legislature and awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature, will prevent Florida cities or counties from putting any new limits on the use of lawn fertilizer for the next year. The last-minute addition to a broader bill was part of budget negotiations.

The bill will also earmark $250,000 for the University of Florida s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to ""evaluate the effectiveness"" of summer fertilizer bans, suggesting that either a permanent prohibition on new restrictions or even legislation preempting existing ones might be on the horizon.

Local governments, including Manatee County, often restrict fertilizer use during the rainiest months to limit the amount of nutrient-rich runoff in local waterways, so as not to feed algal blooms, including red tide.

The legislation was supported by all Manatee County representatives with Senator Jim Boyed (R), Rep. Will Robinson (R), and Rep. Tommy Gregory (R) voting in support of the bill.