Sen. Keith Truenow said he plans to file legislation to overhaul irrigation practices in Florida.
“As a farmer who has worked this land my entire life, I know water isn’t just a resource, it’s our lifeline,” the Tavares Republican said in a statement Friday. “We can’t keep building the Florida of tomorrow with the wasteful practices of yesterday. This legislation brings developers, irrigation professionals, and water experts to the table to craft solutions that work for everyone and will last for generations.”
Truenow, who chairs the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, explained the reason for his bill: Fix what he described as failings in the system.
“Florida’s current irrigation system lacks uniformity, professional oversight, and efficiency standards, allowing unqualified installers to waste millions of gallons annually while patchwork local rules confuse homeowners and undermine conservation,” his office said.
Part of the proposed bill will require only licensed irrigation contractors to install, alter, or repair systems, according to the press release from his office.
“This ends the widespread threat of ‘handyman’ work that leaks water, damages landscapes, and erodes public trust, while elevating professional standards and ensuring accountability,” his office said.
The bill would require uniform rules for watering across the state, which Truenow said will be necessary for environmental reasons and to be more efficient.
“Smarter system designs must be upgraded to require zoned irrigation, smart controllers, pressure regulation, micro-irrigation in plant beds, and separate turf zones. These measures eliminate overspray and runoff, which currently drain the Floridan Aquifer and inflate utility bills, delivering proven water savings for every home and business,” his office said. “By requiring site-appropriate plants, preservation of existing vegetation, pervious surfaces, and low-volume designs, the bill curbs fertilizer runoff, erosion, and excessive watering that threaten Florida’s ecosystems and long-term drought preparedness.”
As of Friday afternoon, the bill hadn’t been assigned a number yet.
