Downloads
CS/CS/HB 1245 — Biosolids Management
by State Affairs Committee; Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; and Rep. Shoaf (CS/CS/CS/SB 1294 by Rules Committee; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Environment and Natural Resources Committee; and Senator Bradley)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EN)
The bill provides that the land application of bulk Class AA biosolids may not exceed the appropriate agronomic rate. Land application of bulk Class AA biosolids fertilizer and biosolids compost products at or below the agronomic rate must be managed so that beneficial reuse is the primary objective. The bill prohibits bulk land application of biosolids to the extent that such application constitutes disposal. Disposal is defined as the bulk land application of biosolids when the nutrients cannot reasonably be expected to be taken up by a crop or vegetative cover during the relevant growing season and the application results in the discard of biosolids on the land application site.
The bill requires land application site owners or operators to maintain records related to agricultural land application of certain biosolids products for five years. Written notification of the recordkeeping requirements must be provided to the owner or operator at the time bulk Class AA biosolids are distributed for land application.
The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to initiate rulemaking by November 1, 2026, for the bulk distribution and marketing of Class AA biosolids. The bill also directs the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to publish recommended agronomic rates for bulk Class AA biosolids on a biennial basis beginning November 1, 2027.
The bill prohibits a Class AA biosolids fertilizer product from being marketed or distributed for agricultural land application unless it meets all applicable statutory requirements.
The bill provides that Class AA biosolids compost products that do not claim any plant nutrients or beneficial plant growth properties may not be marketed or distributed for agricultural land application unless the product is certified under the U.S. Composting Council Seal of Testing Assurance Program. The bill prohibits Class AA biosolids from being used for agricultural land application unless, before land application, the product meets all applicable statutory requirements as a biosolids fertilizer product or meets the specifications for biosolids compost products.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on November 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 111-0