The As Bad As It Is In Florida Podcast

Send us Fan Mail This week, the Ryans discuss Amendment Three, the property tax amendment, and what the implications are if it is passed.  For further reading on the subject, check out: https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florida-property-tax-amendment-ballot-language-summary https://jasongarcia.substack.com/p/here-we-go-again Email us on the show with questions, suggestions, and comments at:  asb...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss the history of land conservation in Florida as well as look at what lies ahead. Email us on the show with questions, suggestions, and comments at:  asbadasitisflorida@gmail.com Become a Florida Springs Council Informed Member - https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/informed-membership Text ‘FSC’ to 844-722-3080 to sign up for FSC Action Alerts for t...

Send us Fan Mail   This week, the Ryans provide updates on bills that still have significance in the last weeks of the legislative session.   The following are action alerts for some of the bills discussed.    Action Alerts:  PLEASE COMPLETE ASAP!  Some of these action alerts are very time sensitive.  DEP Bill HB 1417/SB 1510  https://floridaspringscouncil.good.do/2026legislativesession/SB-1510-Fi...

Send us Fan Mail This week, the Madcaps have special guest Bri, the Community Engagement Manager from the Florida Trail Association, to discuss Florida Trail Fest.  The festival has hikes, paddling, events, classes, food trucks, and much more!  The festival runs from Friday afternoon, March 6th, to Sunday, March 8th.  For schedule and details go to:  https://floridatrail.org/ftf/?srsltid=AfmBOoqZ_...

Send us Fan Mail The Ryans respond to an online comment regarding the Ocklawaha River Restoration bill and provided updates on some significant bills.  In this episode, the following bills were discussed.   HB 1421 : Cattle Grazing on State Land (Albert) / SB 1658 : Cattle Grazing on State Lands (Truenow)     HB 299 : Blue Ribbon Projects (Melo) / SB 354 : Blue Ribbon Projects (McClain)     HB 433...

Send us Fan Mail   Tuesday 2/3 House State Affairs Committee (17 HOB) (8:00 - 10:00 am) HB 441 : Conservation Lands (Kendall) Passed 23-0 HB 981 : Tributaries of St. Johns River (Duggan) Passed, as amended , 23-0 Senate Environment & Natural Resources Committee (110 SOB) (3:30 - 5:30 pm) SB 1510 : Department of Environmental Protection (Massullo) Passed, as amended , 7-0 SPB 7034 : Ratificatio...

Send us Fan Mail   HB 495 : Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification (Albert) Passed 15-0 The week ahead:   Tuesday 2/3   House State Affairs Committee (17 HOB) (8:00 - 10:00 am) HB 441 : Conservation Lands (Kendall) Final Committee HB 981 : Tributaries of St. Johns River (Duggan) Final Committee    Senate Environment & Natural Resources Committee (110 SOB) (3:30 - 5:30 pm) SB 1510...

Send us Fan Mail Week three isn't over, but there were many bills being heard that impact Florida's environment.  Ryan and Ryan have your breakdown of what impacts Florida: SB 290: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Truenow): Temp Postponed HB 11: Designation of State Birds (Mooney) Passed 25-0 HB 981: Tributaries of St. Johns River (Duggan) Passed 28-0 SB 1294: Biosolids M...

Send us Fan Mail Tuesday 1/27 Senate Rules Committee (412 Knott Building) (9:00 - 11:30 am) HB 167 : Former Phosphate Mining Lands (McClure) House State Affairs Committee (17 HOB) (9:30 - 11:30 am) HB 11 : Designation of State Birds (Mooney) House Budget Committee (17 HOB) (3:00 - 6:00 pm) HB 981 : Tributaries of St. Johns River (Duggan) Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee (110 SOB)...

Send us Fan Mail This week, the Ryans discuss bills that are already relevant during week two of Florida's 2026 legislative session.  The bills discussed are:   SB 1066 : Tributaries of St. Johns River (Brodeur) & HB 981 : Tributaries of St. Johns River (Duggan) SB 546 : Conservation Lands (Mayfield) & HB 441 Kendall SB 240 : Auxiliary Containers (Garcia) & HB 575 : Auxiliary Cont...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss some of the bills that have been filed so far: SB 240 Aux Containers https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/240/?Tab=BillText SB 208 Land Use and Development Regulations  https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/240/?Tab=BillText SB 354 Blue Ribbon Projects https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/354 HB 479 Land and Water Management https://flsenate.go...

Send us Fan Mail This week, the DEP and SWFWMD gave presentations to committees in both the House and the Senate to discuss Florida Forever, Conservation Land Swaps, The Everglades, Forever Chemicals, and much more. This episode is a new format for a shorter, more nimble podcast that can get information out before it becomes outdated in the fast-paced legislative environment.    Email us on the sh...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss the presentations by FWC, DEP, SWFWMD, and other agencies of the health of areas that they are monitoring.  Also discussed are two pro development bills and one bill that would help control Florida's trash problem. HB 105 : Local Government Enforcement Actions (Brackett) SB 208 : Land Use and Development Regulations (McClain) SB 240 : Auxiliary...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Ryan and Ryan discuss the Florida Black Bear hunt and the number of applicants for the bear tag lottery, many purchased by those who do not want to hunt bears in an effort to limit the bears killed during the season.   In Destin, a 4-acre sand dune is up for sale for 83.3 million dollars (when it was purchased in 2017 for 8 million), and can be bought with Florida Wildl...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan & Ryan discuss the proposed Springs National Park, developers using SB 180 to avoid regulations, and how you can share the issues that you care about with your state elected officials. For a list of upcoming delegation meetings: https://1000fof.org/upcoming-events/ Email us on the show with questions, suggestions, and comments at:  asbadasitisflorida@gmail.com B...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ryan and Ryan discuss the possible sale of the Chassowitzka River Campground and the role that the Southwest Florida Water Management District has taken in the process. Also our special guest is Hunter from Old Florida Vibes, who describes his conservation journey and the Old Florida Vibes brand. Show notes: Check out Old Florida Vibes and Join the OFV Sticker Clu...

Send us Fan Mail In the first segment, Ryan and Ryan discuss grassroots advocacy and social media to defend Florida's natural areas, including the advocacy Group Floridian's Advancing Florida's Outdoors . In the second segment, the Ryans discuss the "Big Ass Pipe" a proposed project that would provide much-needed water to the Santa Fe River and Springs IF completed.   The...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss an article by the legendary Craig Pittman about the price hikes to some of the springs' entry fees in Ocala National Forest.  The second segment brings a detailed discussion of DEP's near-complete abandonment of its responsibility to ensure water quality around the state and the coalition of groups attempting to hold them accountable. Week...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ryan & Ryan discuss the state budget to see if our elected officials put their money where their mouth is as far as water quality and conservation funding.  SPOILER ALERT, they don't.  Between vetos, defunding conservation land buying programs, and questionable land purchases, serious questions are being raised regarding the future of land conservation in...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss the details of the budget before it gets sent to the governor for signature.  Cuts to conservation funding and a perversion of the implementation bill to deal a blow to the regulation of water withdrawals for agriculture.  Also, special guest Michael McGrath discusses urban fertilizer ordinances and how they help protect our water quality.   Action...

Send us Fan Mail   Action Items Sign Vote Water’s Petition to “Rescue the River of Grass.” Use Waterkeepers Florida Action Alert to ask Gov. DeSantis to veto SB 492, wetlands mitigation banking. Send us an email at asbadasitisflorida@gmail.com EAA Rock Mine Reading Good overview from Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation: https://sccf.org/blog/2025/04/23/southland-rock-mine-unanswered-questions/...

Send us Fan Mail Ryan, Ryan, and special guest Sam record onsite at Spinster Abbot's Bodega in St Augustine, Florida.  In this episode we give updates on rapidly developing issues such as the Guana Land Swap, State Park Protection Act, and FWC Bear Hunt Email us on the show with questions, suggestions, and comments at:  asbadasitisflorida@gmail.com Become a Florida Springs Council Informed Me...

Send us Fan Mail This week the Ryans have two special guests discussing two urgent issues.  First is Katrina Shaddix from Bear Warriors United to discuss the bear hunt and then Sarah discussing the Guana River WMA land swap! Action Items Email ARC board members asking them to Stop the Guana Land Swap and Governor DeSantis (850-717-9337; GovernorRon. DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com ) and Senator Tom Lee...

Send us Fan Mail After listening to hours of committee meetings, spending days in Tallahassee, and reviewing dozens of bills, the Ryans discuss the bills and legislators that either inspired or dismayed them during the 2025 Florida Legislative Session  Action Items Tell legislators Thank You for protecting State Parks, Apalachicola River, and local trash ordinances - https://www.floridaspringscoun...

Send us Fan Mail This week Ryan and Ryan discuss the dramatic close of the final week of the legislative session (as far as bills are concerned) and give in overview of the fate of all the bills we tracked in addition to the heroes and heroines of the 2025 Legislative Session! Action Items Thank Rep. Jason Shoaf (850) 717-5007 for banning oil drilling near the Apalachicola River Thank Rep. Meg Wei...