Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 1294
Ì1146286Î114628
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/25/2026 .
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The Committee on Rules (Bradley) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Subsections (7) through (14) are added to
6 section 403.0855, Florida Statutes, to read:
7 403.0855 Biosolids management.—
8 (7)(a) Land application of bulk Class AA biosolids
9 fertilizer and biosolids compost products may not exceed the
10 appropriate agronomic rate. Land application of bulk Class AA
11 biosolids fertilizer and biosolids compost products at or below
12 the agronomic rate must be managed so that beneficial reuse,
13 rather than biosolids disposal, is the primary objective as
14 evidenced by the manner and circumstances of the application. As
15 used in this subsection, the term “agronomic rate” means the
16 nutrient application rate established using generally accepted,
17 science-based nutrient management principles, including
18 recommendations published by the University of Florida Institute
19 of Food and Agricultural Sciences, which considers plant
20 nutrient requirements; site-specific characteristics, including
21 soil conditions; characteristics of the biosolids fertilizer or
22 biosolids compost products, including nutrient release rates and
23 soil amendment functions; other nutrient inputs applied to the
24 site; and the protection of groundwater and surface water
25 resources.
26 (b) Bulk land application of biosolids, including Class AA
27 biosolids, to the extent that such bulk land application
28 constitutes disposal, is prohibited, and violations are subject
29 to chapter 403. As used in this subsection, the term “disposal”
30 means the bulk land application of biosolids, including any
31 application exceeding the agronomic rate, when, considering the
32 manner and circumstances of the application, the nutrients
33 applied cannot reasonably be expected to be taken up by a crop
34 or vegetative cover during the relevant growing season, and the
35 application results in the discard of biosolids on the land
36 application site.
37 (8)(a) The owner or operator of a land application site at
38 which bulk agricultural land application of biosolids fertilizer
39 or biosolids compost products occurs shall maintain application
40 records for at least 5 years. Such records must be made
41 available to the department upon request and must include all of
42 the following:
43 1. The classification and characteristics of the biosolids
44 applied to the land application site.
45 2. The physical address of the land application site.
46 3. The quantity of biosolids transported to the land
47 application site and received by the owner or operator of the
48 land application site.
49 4. The date on which such biosolids were received by the
50 owner or operator of the land application site.
51 5. The name of the person or entity responsible for the
52 transportation of the biosolids to the land application site.
53 6. The quantity of biosolids applied and the portion or
54 area of the site to which the biosolids are applied.
55 7. The name of the person or entity responsible for the
56 physical application of the biosolids on the land application
57 site.
58 8. The date on which land application of such biosolids
59 occurred.
60 (b) The department shall require that written notification
61 of the recordkeeping requirements under paragraph (a) be
62 provided to the owner or operator of the land application site
63 at the time bulk Class AA biosolids are distributed for land
64 application.
65 (9) The recordkeeping requirements of subsection (8) do not
66 apply to Class AA biosolids products that have a moisture
67 content of 25 percent or less at the time of distribution for
68 use in land application and that maintain a stable, discrete
69 particulate or granular form during storage, handling, and land
70 application. Any person who distributes such biosolids for use
71 in land application shall maintain for at least 5 years and,
72 upon request, provide to the department records identifying the
73 characteristics and quantity of the biosolids distributed, the
74 portion or area of the site to which the biosolids are applied,
75 the date of distribution, and the recipient.
76 (10) The department shall initiate rulemaking no later than
77 November 1, 2026, to amend rule 62-640, Florida Administrative
78 Code, to implement the provisions of this section relating to
79 the bulk distribution and marketing of Class AA biosolids,
80 including provisions addressing recordkeeping at the time Class
81 AA biosolids are distributed or marketed in bulk.
82 (11) The University of Florida Institute of Food and
83 Agricultural Sciences shall, on a biennial basis, publish and
84 make publicly available recommended agronomic rates for the
85 beneficial reuse of bulk Class AA biosolids fertilizer and
86 biosolids compost products. The initial publication must occur
87 on or before November 1, 2027. The recommendations must be
88 informed by a review of the scientific literature and applicable
89 available agronomic guidance and must include, but need not be
90 limited to, all of the following:
91 (a) The characteristics of commonly produced biosolids
92 products relevant to nutrient availability and environmental
93 risk, including nutrient content, nutrient release
94 characteristics, and physical form.
95 (b) Recommended agronomic rate ranges or application
96 approaches that account for crop type, soil conditions,
97 environmental vulnerabilities, seasonal factors, and management
98 practices.
99 (c) The scientific basis and degree of supporting research
100 for recommended agronomic rates, distinguishing recommendations
101 suitable for general application from those requiring site
102 specific evaluation.
103 (d) Data gaps and product types, conditions, or practices
104 for which additional field verification or research would
105 improve future recommendations, including identification of
106 relevant research priorities and associated resource
107 considerations.
108 (e) Best practices for on-the-ground implementation and
109 verification consistent with agronomic principles.
110 (12) A Class AA biosolids fertilizer product may not be
111 marketed or distributed for agricultural land application unless
112 the product meets all applicable requirements of chapter 576.
113 (13) A Class AA biosolids compost product that does not
114 claim any plant nutrients or beneficial plant growth properties,
115 as described in s. 576.011(14), may not be marketed or
116 distributed for agricultural land application unless the product
117 is enrolled in and certified under the U.S. Composting Council
118 Seal of Testing Assurance Program.
119 (14) Class AA biosolids may not be used for agricultural
120 land application unless, before land application, the product
121 meets all applicable requirements of chapter 576 as a biosolids
122 fertilizer product or meets the specifications of subsection
123 (13).
124 Section 2. This act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
125
126 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
127 And the title is amended as follows:
128 Delete everything before the enacting clause
129 and insert:
130 A bill to be entitled
131 An act relating to biosolids management; amending s.
132 403.0855, F.S.; prohibiting the land application of
133 bulk Class AA biosolids fertilizer and compost
134 products from exceeding the appropriate agronomic
135 rate; specifying requirements for the management of
136 the land application of bulk Class AA biosolids
137 fertilizer and biosolids compost products at or below
138 the agronomic rate; defining the term “agronomic
139 rate”; prohibiting the bulk land application of
140 biosolids when such bulk application constitutes
141 disposal; defining the term “disposal”; requiring the
142 owner or operator of certain land application sites to
143 maintain application records for a specified timeframe
144 and make such records available to the Department of
145 Environmental Protection upon request; specifying
146 requirements for such records; specifying that the
147 department must require written notification of such
148 recordkeeping requirements be provided to the owner or
149 operator of such land at the time bulk Class AA
150 biosolids are distributed for land application;
151 providing that such recordkeeping requirements do not
152 apply to certain biosolids; specifying requirements
153 for the distribution of such biosolids; requiring the
154 department to initiate rulemaking by a specified date;
155 requiring the University of Florida Institute of Food
156 and Agricultural Sciences, on a specified basis and
157 beginning on a specified date, to publish and make
158 publicly available recommended agronomic rates for the
159 reuse of bulk Class AA biosolids fertilizer and
160 compost products; specifying requirements for such
161 recommendations; prohibiting Class AA biosolids
162 fertilizer products and certain Class AA biosolids
163 compost products from being marketed or distributed
164 for agricultural land application unless specified
165 requirements are met; prohibiting Class AA biosolids
166 from being used for agricultural land application
167 unless certain requirements are met; providing an
168 effective date.