Public urged to sound off about conservation measure

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – State legislators say they want to hear from the public about how to put in a place a newly passed conservation amendment.

Voters in November overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1. It requires the state to earmark billions of tax dollars for a host of environmental protection projects.

But there are questions being raised about what type of projects should be eligible for the money. The amendment could also require legislators to drop funding from other programs in order to pay for it.

The Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation on Wednesday launched a website that would allow members of the public to comment on what should be done.

The Florida Legislature is expected to pass a bill during its annual session that would implement the amendment.