Commission agrees to circulate county attorney's Amendment 1 draft language to conservation stakeholders

The county attorney presented draft language intended to reduce ambiguity in Florida’s Amendment 1 (2014) conservation funding language and to protect traditional land‑acquisition funding. Commissioners discussed the legal and strategic implications, including whether to pursue legislative fixes or a repeal‑and‑replace ballot initiative.

Commissioner Hutchison praised the attorney’s drafting as a creative option for protecting conservation funding, and Commissioner Bradley and other members discussed the strategic merits of circulating the draft among statewide conservation organizations and the Water and Land Legacy Committee. Commissioner Cornell moved (and the board approved) sending the attorney’s work product to the Legacy Committee and to the organizations that had originally supported Amendment 1, along with language inviting consideration of repeal‑and‑replace and further discussion.

County attorney staff noted a related lawsuit pending in the courts and said the county will continue monitoring litigation and coordinate next steps with local stakeholders.

Next steps: The county attorney will transmit the draft language and coordinator will work with commissioners to prepare a cover letter; staff will monitor litigation and report back if stakeholders request county involvement in broader campaigns or drafting.