Sen. Danny Burgess filed legislation Tuesday that would mandate annual inspections of canals and culverts under local government control to mitigate flooding risks before hurricane season.

The legislation would require each political subdivision in Florida to conduct inspections of known stormwater works by June 1 each year and submit confirmation of completion to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The legislation directs the division to develop a standardized inspection form, which must be completed and signed by the inspecting official before being submitted to the state. The bill also grants the division authority to adopt rules necessary to implement the inspection and reporting process.

The proposal follows severe flooding in Pasco County and other areas of the state after Hurricane Milton, where stormwater infrastructure failures contributed to rising water levels and significant property damage.

“Last year, in the wake of Hurricane Milton, our local communities experienced historic flooding that left many trapped in rising waters needing to be rescued from their homes and significantly damaging properties throughout our area,” said Burgess. “Too many residents are still dealing with standing water and damaged homes. There’s nothing more important we can do than assess what happened and determine how we can get better prepared.

“One issue identified was poorly functioning canals and culverts that were unable to divert and drain water as intended,” he added. “That’s why, this session, I’ve filed legislation to ensure local governments are inspecting canals and culverts each year, so they remain clear and functional to help mitigate future flooding. We must put the lessons we learned through our shared experience to good use and take action now to protect our communities and reduce the risk of something like this happening again.”

If enacted, the legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.