U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB9017: Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026
Status: In committee, September 10, 2026
To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, May 22, 2026:
A BILL To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026 . SECTION 2. Compliance with biological opinion related to dredge and fill permitting program (a) In general For purposes of the Agency Action-- (1) the Biological Opinion is deemed to be compliant with, and compliance with the Biological Opinion is deemed to be compliance with, the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ); and (2) no additional consultation under section 7(a) of that Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1536(a) ) is required. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency Action The term Agency Action -- (A) means the approval by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency of the request of the State of Florida for the assumption by the State of Florida of the administration and permitting of a State permit program under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ), as described in the notice published by the Environmental Protection Agency titled EPA's Approval of Florida's Clean Water Act Section …
Sponsors
- Byron Donalds (R, HD-FL-19) · primary sponsor
- Brian Mast (R, HD-FL-21)
- Jared Moskowitz (D, HD-FL-23)
- Mike Haridopolos (R, HD-FL-8)
- Vern Buchanan (R, HD-FL-16)
- Greg Steube (R, HD-FL-17)
- Gus Bilirakis (R, HD-FL-12)
- Laurel Lee (R, HD-FL-15)
- Daniel Webster (R, HD-011)
- Jimmy Patronis (R, HD-FL-1)
Latest actions
- : Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- : Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Environmental Protection
Common questions
- What is HB9017?
- HB9017 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026.
- What does HB9017 do?
- In its own words: To provide that compliance with a certain biological opinion is deemed to be compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for purposes of a certain agency action, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB9017?
- In committee as of September 10, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. (September 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB9017?
- Byron Donalds (R, HD-FL-19), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB9017?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9017
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.