Six bills, one agenda: Sen. McClain pushes pro-development blitz

Florida Sen. Stan McClain comes off as an affable guy — the type of person you might like to get a beer with.

But after seeing the legislation he’s filed ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session, you may want to order a double.

McClain, an Ocala Republican, is a residential building contractor in real life, meaning he speaks for the development community. And for several years running he’s been behind some of the worst pro-development legislation out of Tallahassee. But for the upcoming 2026 legislative session, he’s outdone himself.

Six of the worst bills filed ahead of session — a “dirty” half-dozen — have been sponsored by McClain. Collectively, if passed, they would cut citizens out of the approval process on huge development proposals; they would make it impossible for local governments to pass their own rules regarding wetlands or water quality. They would make it harder for cities or counties to raise impact fees or even enforce their own rules and regulations.

And McClain chairs the powerful Senate Community Affairs Committee, which will hear all of these bills. Want to guess whether they’ll pass?

Click the button below to read more about each of these bills — and what could happen if they become law.

Sign the petition to stop Blue Origin pollution in the Indian River Lagoon

The worst idea in the world — and in space, too? This could be it:

Florida would allow nearly 500,000 gallons of wastewater daily at Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facilities that would affect the Indian River Lagoon under a draft proposal from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The permit would allow Jeff Bezos’ rocket company to operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility that could dispense up to 0.49 million gallons per day. Of that total, up to 15,000 gallons per day could be unprocessed wastewater.

The water comes from manufacturing activities at the site where Blue Origin builds its New Glenn rocket as well as other space-related hardware such as the Blue Moon lunar lander.

All of it would be discharged into a large stormwater pond with more than 400,000 square feet of surface area, but then flow into the sensitive Indian River Lagoon in north Brevard County.

And the potential impact on the already impaired Indian River Lagoon? Let’s just say it could be out of this world.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Florida DEP requires wastewater plants discharging over 500,000 gallons per day into the Indian River Lagoon or nearby infiltration basins to meet stricter standards. Blue Origin’s draft permit comes in just under that limit.

Brevard County Commissioners have requested a public hearing on the proposal, but that’s the extent of their authority here. People who care about the lagoon, however, are justifiably up in arms — and you can join them by signing the Change.org petition opposing the proposal: Click the button below.

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Florida's waterways are breathtaking — but valuable for more than their beauty. The economic impact is in the billions. Boaters, anglers, tourists — without clean water, they all go away. So VoteWater holds politicians accountable, challenges polluting special interests, and fights for policies that protect Florida’s waters, communities, and future. Donate today to keep Florida’s natural beauty alive for generations to come. Or help us turn the tide by becoming an annual member for $60, or a WaveMaker for $1,200.

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