DeSantis vetoes water contamination reporting bill
TAMPA, Fla. — A bill that would have created a streamlined system for reporting contaminated waterways and swimming spots was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
House Bill 165, also known as the Safe Waterways Act, was one of roughly a dozen bills that DeSantis ultimately axed following the 2024 legislative session.
The purpose of the bill was to create a statewide process managed by the Department of Health to issue closures and send warnings if bacteria levels in waterways reached unsafe amounts. It would also require that warning signs be put up and closures to be put into place within 24 hours of the issue being known.
In a letter explaining his reasoning for the veto, DeSantis stated the bill...
