Florida House Blocks Manatee County Cruise Terminal Proposal

New legislation adds protections for Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, stopping developer's plans.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:50am

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The Florida House unanimously passed SB 302, a bill that blocks plans for a cruise terminal in Manatee County near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The legislation adds extra safeguards for the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, making it difficult for the developer to move forward with the controversial project that drew fierce local opposition.

Why it matters

This decision represents a victory for environmental advocates who fought to protect the sensitive Terra Ceia ecosystem from the potential impacts of a large-scale cruise terminal development. The new legislation sets a precedent for strengthening nature-based coastal protections across Florida.

The details

Tucked inside SB 302 is an amendment pushed by Sen. Jim Boyd that prohibits dredging or filling submerged lands in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, except for public health reasons or environmental restoration. The bill also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to establish statewide standards for nature-based coastal protection solutions by 2027, including living shorelines, seagrass restoration, and mangrove preservation.

  • On March 13, 2026, the Florida House unanimously passed SB 302.
  • The bill now heads to the governor's desk and, if signed, the changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Sen. Jim Boyd

The state senator representing Bradenton, who pushed for the amendment adding extra protections for the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

Rep. Jim Mooney

The Key Largo representative who pitched the Senate version of the bill in the House.

Rep. Will Robinson

The Bradenton representative who backed the Terra Ceia protections, calling them "overdue" and criticizing the idea of "mega cruise ships" in the pristine area.

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What they’re saying

“Your bill will do a great-great deal to stop that from occurring in one of the most important environmental areas in our state. It's a wonderful bill, and maybe one of the more important environmental bills that we vote on this session.”

— Rep. Will Robinson

What’s next

If the governor signs SB 302, the new protections for the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The takeaway

This legislation represents a significant victory for environmental advocates in Florida, demonstrating the state's commitment to safeguarding sensitive coastal ecosystems like the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve from large-scale development projects that could threaten their delicate balance.