Save Rural Seminole

05/12/2026

Our Rural Boundary Town Hall originally scheduled for May 15th has been rescheduled.

Due to a medical emergency involving our lead speaker, and to ensure several legislators are back from special session and able to participate, we’ve made the decision to postpone the event to a later date.

🌱 Please still register to stay on the email list and be the first to hear the new date and updates:
https://forms.gle/kZ4tj7UNwTNSTxB6A

This conversation is too important to miss. Together with Defending Rural Florida, Save Rural Seminole, Save Split Oak, and Bear Warriors United, we’ll still be coming together to discuss threats to our rural boundary, review legislation from this past session, and organize to protect our communities for generations to come.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Stay tuned for the rescheduled date.

05/01/2026

New hiking trails in east Orange County!

04/29/2026

Complete the e-mails to our State Legislators.

Florida's regular legislative session has ended — but lawmakers still haven't finalized a state budget. That means there's still time to speak up for Florida Forever.
Here's where things stand:
🏛️ The House proposed $0 for the program
🏛️ The Senate proposed $50 million — but restricted entirely to conservation easements
Take action: https://takeaction.io/1000fof/urge-lawmakers-to-fully-fund-florida-forever/

None of these come close to the Legislature's own 2023 commitment of at least $100 million a year.
Why does the easements-only restriction matter? Because Florida Forever is the only major state program that both protects high-priority natural lands AND expands public access through new state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. Often, the land most at risk of development belongs to sellers who want to sell — not retain ownership under an easement. Without the option to purchase outright, valuable and vulnerable land will be lost forever.

Public support couldn't be clearer: 81% of Floridians back funding Florida Forever at $100 million or more, and in 2014, 75% of voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating billions to land and water conservation.

Budget conferees are working right now to reconcile the two chambers' proposals. Your voice matters. Take a moment to urge them to fully fund Florida Forever before a final deal is struck.
Take action: https://takeaction.io/1000fof/urge-lawmakers-to-fully-fund-florida-forever/

04/29/2026

Florida is running out of fresh water and our elected officials don’t want us to know. And they certainly don’t want us to do something about it that would keep their donors from turning our remaining natural lands into parking lots and rooftops.

04/28/2026

Florida Forever is in danger of being defunded. It is simply gross that the legislature won’t honor the direction citizens gave them to fund Florida Forever.

In 2014 citizens passed a constitutional amendment requiring that 1/3 of doc stamp revenue be used to fund land acquisition.

In 2023 the legislature made a promise that they would always fund Florida Forever at a minimum level of $100M.

Overwhelming percentages of voters support this. A 2026 poll by Mason-Dixon showed 81% of Floridians wanted the budget to include at least this $100M. That’s 83% of Democrats and 78% of Republicans!

Does the legislature honor that? No, of course not. They think they know better than us.

The Senate budget includes only $35M in new funds for Florida Forever and the House budget includes $0.

This is unacceptable.

There is a link in the comments for an e-mail through @1000 Friends of Florida to our Senators and Representatives. Please contact and tell them to honor the will of the citizens and fund Forever.

Bear Warriors United
Save Orange County
Defending Rural Florida
Black Hammock Association
Tangerine, Florida
Geneva Citizens Association
The Village of Geneva, FL

04/27/2026

Elections matter.

Ask the hard questions, look at track records, and make good choices.

November is coming soon.

Save Orange County
Bear Warriors United
Defending Rural Florida
Black Hammock Association
Tangerine, Florida
The Village of Geneva, FL
Geneva Citizens Association

04/24/2026

Great natural land conservation work going on in Orange County.

04/15/2026

Join us for a Rural Boundary Town Hall hosted jointly by Save Rural Seminole, Defending Rural Florida, Split Oak, and Bear Warriors United about protecting our rural communities.

Friday, May 15th
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
The Wedding Barn
346 E. Franklin St, Oviedo, FL 32765

During this event, we’ll break down the legislation from the last session that could have permanently harmed our rural boundary, the threats we’ll face in the next session, map out which legislators stood with our communities (and who didn’t), and highlight local champions who have committed to protecting these vital lands.

This is about transparency, accountability, and building the collective power needed to defend our rural spaces for generations to come.

Now is a key moment to get informed, plugged in, and help shape what comes next across our region.

Please register to attend and we hope to see you there!

Register:

Join us for a critical community conversation about protecting our rural boundary 🌿 Rural Boundary Town Hall 🗓 Friday, May 15 🕡 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 The Wedding Barn | 346 E. Franklin St, Oviedo, FL 32765 In partnership with Defending Rural Florida, Save Rural Seminole, Save Split Oak, ...