Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken another bold step to protect Florida’s environment.
The governor has signed legislation that includes a 100 percent increase in penalties for sanitary sewer overflows and an across-the-board 50 percent increase for all other environmental fines. The legislation was sponsored by State Rep. Randy fine and State Sen. Joe Gruters, both Republicans.
“Penalties for violating environmental laws should do what they’re meant to do: serve as a meaningful deterrent against bad actors,” said Gov. DeSantis. The governor has made enforcement of the state’s environmental laws a top priority.
Right here in the Tampa Bay area there have been a number of large, ongoing spills of untreated water and sewage by local governments.
According to Sen. Gruters, the bill will hold polluters accountable and hopefully deter them from causing future spills.
