VICTORY! Senate Committee Unanimously Passes SB240 – Florida’s Marine Debris Reduction Bill
SB 240 Passes Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee — Unanimously!
We’re thrilled to announce that SB 240 — a game-changing bill to reduce marine debris across Florida — passed its first Senate hurdle with unanimous support from the Environment and Natural Resources Committee!
This bill is a big step forward in the fight to keep plastic pollution out of Florida’s waters, wildlife, and stormwater systems.
What’s in SB 240:
- Creates Florida’s first-ever Marine Debris Reduction Plan
- Keeps existing local foam and plastic rules in place
- Directs DEP to regulate single-use containers in state parks
- Directs the state to create a uniform policy cities can adopt
It’s a win for clean water and a win for policy consistency, balancing what businesses have asked for with what our environment desperately needs. You can read the full bill here.
Our Champions Deserve Thanks – We are incredibly grateful to:
- Senator Ileana Garcia, who sponsored and championed SB 240
- Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, who co-sponsored SB 240
- Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, who placed SB 240 on the agenda and helped ensure it moved forward
Their leadership shows that protecting Florida’s waters is a shared value — not a partisan issue. I encourage you to send them a pre-populated ‘Thank You’ email by clicking on their names above (it will literally take you 30 seconds, but makes a world of difference).
What Dave Told the Committee –
“Removing plastic — especially foam — from the water is expensive, tedious work. The cheapest, easiest, and most effective solution is to keep it out in the first place. For years, there’s been a tug-of-war between businesses and environmental advocates over local plastic restrictions. SB 240 shifts the focus away from banning specific items and toward marine debris prevention — especially in sensitive coastal areas. This bill strikes a bipartisan, practical balance between business clarity and protection for Florida’s waterways.” You can watch the entire Committee meeting here.
👏 Shout Out to Our Coalition Partners
This wasn’t a solo effort, but a collaboration between organizations who leveraged personal connections, expertise, social media and action alerts. Thank you to:
- VolunteerCleanup.Org
- Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition
- Oceana
- Florida Springs Council
- Surfrider Foundation
- Sea Turtle Conservancy
- Sierra Club
Keep an eye out over the next few months — we will need you to make phone calls to your legislators in support of SB 240 and the companion House bill (pending release).
Let’s Keep Florida Beautiful -Foam doesn’t belong in our oceans. Plastic doesn’t belong in our springs. Together, we can stop marine debris at the source.
Thanks for standing with us.!.
