Florida Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody unveiled the Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act on Monday, a bid to cement the state’s control over Clean Water Act Section 404 dredge-and-fill permits.
The legislation, reintroduced in the new Congress, aims to shield Florida’s streamlined environmental permitting from federal overreach. It spotlights Scott’s 2020 win as governor and senator under President Trump.
The bill codifies Florida’s authority to issue permits for projects impacting wetlands and waterways, a power the state wrested from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) five years ago.
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Scott, who signed the enabling state law as governor, touted it as a rejection of “one-size-fits-all” federal rules.
“Florida is home to unique waterways and natural resources that should not be subject to a one-size-fits-all federal regulatory framework. The Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act safeguards the Clean Water Act permitting authorities that I championed as Governor and helped secure as Senator in President Trump’s first term,” said Scott. “It ensures that the State of Florida has the authority to make informed and timely decisions for our residents, while also preserving our state’s precious natural resources for future generations to protect and enjoy.”
Moody, a fifth-generation Floridian and former state attorney general, echoed the call, slamming Biden-era federal delays that bogged down Section 404 applications.
“Under the Biden administration, our ability to protect our environment has been hindered by federal bureaucracy and excessive red tape, and Section 404 permit applications for projects that benefit the environment, and the public, became subject to a federal backlog. States should have the right to make decisions about their own natural resources, not be dictated to by Washington bureaucrats,” said Moody.
Florida’s 2020 takeover of the program—greenlit after Scott’s push—lets the state handle permits for dredging or filling navigable waters, a process often tied to development or conservation projects.
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The senators say it’s faster and better tailored to Florida’s needs, avoiding EPA backlogs that stalled efforts under Biden. The act clarifies legal footing for states to use equivalent standards, ensuring “regulatory certainty” for a process Scott and Moody call vital to balancing growth and nature.
With Florida’s congressional duo now in the Senate, the bill’s reintroduction signals a fresh GOP drive to flex state muscle over federal sway—especially with Trump back in office.
If passed, it could set a template for other states, though environmentalists may balk at loosening federal oversight. For now, Scott and Moody are betting on a homegrown fix for the Sunshine State’s watery treasures.
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