Governor Enacts State Law Supporting the Florida Trail
Governor Jeb Bush has signed the Florida Greenways and Trails bill which FTA actively supported these past two legislative sessions. The new state law will help our efforts to secure a protected corridor for the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) through the state’s land acquisition programs. The Florida House and Senate passed House Bill 1141
unanimously, and Governor Bush signed it into state law on May 26.
House Bill 1141 amended the Florida Greenways and Trails Act which will give the FNST greater standing and recognition when state, regional and local agencies are pursuing land acquisition for conservation purposes. One of the most significant aspects of the bill is that it encourages state public land buying agencies to consider the trail as a single
project to have individual parcels for acquisition to be submitted more efficiently and effectively. The bill also states that it is the intent of the Legislature to establish the trail in a permanent location and recognized the route of the trail as identified by FTA and the USDA Forest Service to guide land acquisition and trail development.
Special thanks are extended to Senator Paula Dockery from Lakeland and Representative Mike Davis from Naples for sponsoring and shepherding the bill through their respective chambers. Senator Dockery and Representative Davis went out of their way to push the bill through the many committees who heard the bill. Thanks are also extended to the bill’s other Senate co-sponsors: Senator Nancy Argenziano from Crystal River; Senator Ron Klein from Delray Beach; Senator Evelyn Lynn from Ormond Beach; and Senator Victor Crist from Tampa. We also thank Representative Davis’ co-sponsors in the Florida House of Representatives: Representative Bob Allen from Merritt Island; Representative Thad Altman from Melbourne; Representative Mitch Needelman from Melbourne; Representative Joe Pickens from Palatka; Representative Eleanor Sobel from Hollywood; and Representative Juan Zapata from Miami. We would also like to thank David Gluckman, our advocate before the Legislature, for his hard work in getting the bill passed and signed into law. If you are a constituent of any of these Legislators, please drop them a note or call and express your thanks for supporting the Florida greenways and trails bill. While you are at it, please also send Governor Bush a note of thanks for his support. If you would like to call your Representative’s local office, you can find it in the phone book or please contact me at (850) 523-8576 or at kwimmer@fs.fed.us.
Kent Wimmer, FNST Liaison
FTA Staff @ June 1, 2005