Subcommittee advances bill to expand notice and transparency for state land swaps

Representative Kendall's House Bill 441, aimed at tightening transparency around state land swaps, was reported favorably by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee after a public hearing and brief debate.

Kendall told the committee the measure was prompted by a recent proposal affecting the Guana River Wildlife Management Area in her district. She said an owner sought a land swap that would have moved parcels across counties and that public opposition—she said more than 50,000 people signed a petition—helped lead the applicant to withdraw the proposal. The bill would lengthen the notice period from seven days to 30 days and require the Division of State Lands to publish on its website the parcels under consideration, what portions would remain in conservation, at least one appraisal per portion and a statement explaining why the swap would benefit the state.

Members pressed Kendall on outreach and implementation. Representative Barnaby asked whether the ARC board had been contacted; Kendall said she and co-sponsor Representative Tant had discussed the issue with DEP policy staff and local stakeholders and had revised the bill language after input. Representative Henson and others said the change would help rebuild trust and allow more meaningful public review.

Three public proponents spoke in support. Hugh Long of Jacksonville Beach urged the committee to protect public conservation lands and said ad‑hoc carve‑outs for development “erode trust in government.” Representatives on the panel praised the bill’s transparency requirements as a guardrail against surprise land swaps.

After a brief sponsor closing, the clerk called the roll. The committee recorded unanimous affirmative responses and the chair announced HB 441 was reported favorably out of the subcommittee. No amendments were adopted in committee and no final bill text changes were discussed on the record.

Next steps: reported‑favorably committee action typically moves the bill to subsequent committee consideration or to the full appropriations pathway as required by chamber rules. The sponsor said she would continue outreach with the Division of State Lands and ARC board representatives.