Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1510
Ì511432qÎ511432
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/25/2026 .
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The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and
General Government (Massullo) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Between lines 146 and 147
4 insert:
5 Section 2. Section 163.3205, Florida Statutes, is amended
6 to read:
7 163.3205 Solar facility approval process; best management
8 practices for stormwater.—
9 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature
10 to encourage renewable solar electrical generation throughout
11 this state. It is essential that solar facilities and associated
12 electric infrastructure be constructed and maintained in various
13 locations throughout this state in order to ensure the
14 availability of renewable energy production, which is critical
15 to this state’s energy and economic future.
16 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term “solar
17 facility” means a production facility for electric power which:
18 (a) Uses photovoltaic modules to convert solar energy to
19 electricity that may be stored on site, delivered to a
20 transmission system, and consumed primarily offsite.
21 (b) Consists principally of photovoltaic modules, a
22 mounting or racking system, power inverters, transformers,
23 collection systems, battery systems, fire suppression equipment,
24 and associated components.
25 (c) May include accessory administration or maintenance
26 buildings, electric transmission lines, substations, energy
27 storage equipment, and related accessory uses and structures.
28 (3) PERMITTED USE.—A solar facility is shall be a permitted
29 use in all agricultural land use categories in a local
30 government comprehensive plan and all agricultural zoning
31 districts within an unincorporated area and must comply with the
32 setback and landscaped buffer area criteria for other similar
33 uses in the agricultural district.
34 (4) LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS.—A county may adopt an ordinance
35 specifying buffer and landscaping requirements for solar
36 facilities. Such requirements may not exceed the requirements
37 for similar uses involving the construction of other facilities
38 that are permitted uses in agricultural land use categories and
39 zoning districts.
40 (5) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR STORMWATER.—
41 (a) An applicant for a permit under s. 373.413 for a
42 stormwater management system related to the construction of a
43 solar facility must incorporate site specific and appropriate
44 additional protections in the development and implementation of
45 an erosion and sediment control (E&SC) plan. Such E&SC plan must
46 include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
47 1. Soil percolation testing on the premises of the proposed
48 solar facility.
49 2. Implementation of stormwater best management practices
50 and related erosion controls for runoff during the construction
51 of the solar facility based on rainfall amounts up to the 100
52 year, 24-hour design storm for the project site.
53 3. Clearing and stabilization in phases as needed to reduce
54 disturbed portions of the project site, which may be susceptible
55 to erosion during construction.
56 4. Inspections performed by a certified Florida Stormwater,
57 Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector during construction
58 to ensure the E&SC plan is implemented in accordance with s.
59 373.413.
60 (b) An operational phase stormwater management system
61 permitted in accordance with s. 373.4145 serving a solar
62 facility within the jurisdictional boundary of the Northwest
63 Florida Water Management District shall be designed based on the
64 100-year, 24-hour design storm for the project site. This
65 provision applies to applications for solar facilities filed
66 after July 1, 2026.
67 (c) An operator of a solar facility or a proposed solar
68 facility shall implement all construction and operational permit
69 requirements as developed and applicable pursuant to paragraph
70 (a).
71 (6) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to any site
72 that was the subject of an application to construct a solar
73 facility submitted to a local governmental entity before July 1,
74 2021.
75
76 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
77 And the title is amended as follows:
78 Delete line 5
79 and insert:
80 Commission; amending s. 163.3205, F.S.; requiring an
81 applicant for specified permits to incorporate certain
82 additional protections in the development and
83 implementation of an erosion and sediment control plan
84 for the construction of a solar facility; specifying
85 requirements for such plan; specifying requirements
86 for an operational phase stormwater management system
87 serving a solar facility in a specified jurisdiction;
88 providing applicability; requiring an operator of a
89 solar facility or a proposed solar facility to
90 implement specified construction and operational
91 permit requirements; amending s. 259.035, F.S.;
92 expanding the