State Sen. Joe Gruters and Rep. Randy Fine have introduced legislation that would increase fines on local governments over sewage spills in Florida waterways.
The legislators, both Republicans, say they want to send a strong message to local governments after repeated sewage spills in fragile waterways in recent years.
Gruters represents Sarasota, and Fine represents Palm Bay.
The measure represents another signal water quality will be an issue in this year’s legislative session, which begins next week.
Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed legislation last year for the upcoming session addressing wastewater spills, septic systems and agricultural practices.
The governor’s push was based on recommendations from a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, appointed after toxic algae gripped the state in 2017.
