Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in West Palm Beach where he discussed the latest upgrades for the state’s natural and environmental resources.
The governor was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton on Earth Day when he spoke from the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
“As of January 2025, we are on track to acquire $6.5 billion in upgrades for the Everglades Restoration Project since 2019,” DeSantis said. "We needed a jolt to our Everglades and water quality, so we pledged $3.5 billion which more than doubled in the previous four years.”
An additional $1.5 billion was also added to invest in wastewater treatment upgrades, the governor said.
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“The investments in water quality are the key to our survival,” said Hamilton.
Two bills have been recently introduced to DeSantis.
HB 156 addresses the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative and SB 1136 focuses on the regulation of water resources.
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While the governor did not sign either bill on Monday, he said the wastewater grant will go into effect on July 1.
