Florida subcommittee reports favorably on making petroleum cleanup cost waivers permanent

The Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee reported favorably on a committee bill to make permanent cost waivers for the Petroleum Cleanup Participation Program, the committee chair announced after a roll‑call vote.

Representative Snyder told members the change would convert a one‑year trial into permanent law and use the Inland Protection Trust Fund to cover co‑payments, deductibles and monetary caps. "We will be extending that permanently into law," Snyder said, describing the measure as intended to speed remediation of aging petroleum tanks that can threaten springs, drinking water and coastal areas.

Snyder said last year's implementing language in the General Appropriations Act created a one‑year waiver trial that led property owners to work with the Department of Environmental Protection to remediate old sites. "We did see, what we hoped to happen in that effort last year is that there was an increased effort," he said, adding that the bill aims to ensure the state has resources "to get those cleaned up."

The committee moved to questions, heard no amendments and recorded no public testimony. The clerk called a roll‑call vote; the transcript records affirmative responses from Representatives Albert, Alvarez, Bartleman, Black, Boyle, Guerrero, Mooney, Maggard and Chair Snyder. The chair declared the bill reported favorably.

After the vote Representative Barreiro returned the gavel to Chair Snyder. Representative Benaroche moved "we rise without objection," and the committee adjourned.

The bill would formalize a process that waives financial barriers for property owners seeking to remediate petroleum contamination and would direct payments through the Inland Protection Trust Fund. The committee's favorable report sends PCB ANR 26‑01 forward in the legislative process; the transcript does not record subsequent committee actions or floor scheduling for the measure.