The Florida House unanimously approved legislation Thursday that would prohibit new commercial construction in state parks and impose strict safeguards on the use and management of public conservation lands.

The measure cleared the chamber in a unanimous vote following earlier Senate passage and now awaits action from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill was filed in response to proposed developments in state parks, including golf courses and Pickleball courts in Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The legislation codifies a preservation-first approach to park management by banning new commercial buildings such as sports complexes and lodging facilities, while allowing limited use of camping cabins under conditions that avoid harm to sensitive habitats.

“Our parks are not just scenic escapes — they are irreplaceable public lands,” said Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who sponsored the bill. “They are not for sale. With this legislation, we are guaranteeing that future generations will continue to experience Florida as it was meant to be: wild, natural, and protected.”

HB 209 amends multiple sections of Florida Statutes to require that any proposed changes to the use of conservation or non-conservation lands undergo a formal review process, including at least one publicly noticed hearing in an affected county. For land management plans involving parcels within state parks or larger than 160 acres, agencies must publish the plans electronically at least 30 days before the hearing and solicit feedback from a locally constituted advisory group. These groups must include representatives from land management agencies, local conservation organizations, property owners, and elected officials.

The bill also establishes that all state-managed park lands must prioritize conservation-based recreational uses, such as hiking, canoeing, and wildlife observation, and explicitly defines such activities as those that do not degrade or displace native ecosystems, wildlife, or historical resources. It further prohibits the Division of Recreation and Parks from authorizing any construction that would significantly impact a park’s natural or archaeological features.

Moreover, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker by December 1, 2025, identifying all state park amenities currently closed or restricted due to infrastructure deficiencies. The report must also provide a breakdown of expenditures by category for the prior fiscal year and include a strategy to reduce the maintenance backlog across the state park system by 2035.