DeSantis Signs Bills Blocking Proposed Manatee Cruise Port, Announces Skyway Fishing Pier Improvements
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two pieces of legislation Thursday in Manatee County that will impact coastal development, environmental policy, and local infrastructure, including a measure that effectively halts a proposed cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The governor approved Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 1417 during an event at Pier 22. Senate Bill 302 establishes additional environmental protections in areas such as Terra Ceia Bay, preventing large-scale development projects like the previously proposed cruise port within sensitive aquatic preserves.
The decision comes amid ongoing debate over the need for additional port infrastructure in the region, which already includes multiple deep-water ports in Tampa Bay, including SeaPort Manatee. The new law reinforces conservation priorities for protected coastal areas in Manatee County.
House Bill 1417 focuses on changes to the state’s environmental regulatory framework. The legislation eliminates the Environmental Regulation Commission and is intended to streamline the rulemaking process, allowing for more efficient updates to environmental protections while supporting economic activity.
The bill also ratifies rules aimed at securing a stable water supply along two rivers in North Florida, part of broader statewide water management efforts.
In addition to signing the legislation, DeSantis announced plans for improvements to the Skyway Fishing Pier. A new fishing pier will be constructed on the Manatee County side of the bridge, following safety concerns that led to the closure of part of the existing structure in October after damage from Hurricane Milton.
The Pinellas County side of the pier will undergo upgrades designed to extend its usable lifespan by approximately 20 years. Demolition of unsafe and unused sections on both sides of the structure is expected to begin later this spring, with officials indicating the project will move forward quickly.
Both Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 1417 are scheduled to take effect July 1.
