The bill would create a new legal shield for people who own former phosphate mining land. It helps owners remove what’s called “strict liability” if someone sues over harms caused by pollution.
A bill is making its way through the Florida House that could impact Floridians’ houses — if they live on or near former phosphate mines, at least.
Those mines — from extracting the phosphate rock commonly used in fertilizer — create pollution concerns like elevated radiation levels. Supporters say the proposal will address the legal fallout and health concerns from where the mining occurred, predominantly in phosphate-rich Polk, Hillsborough, Hardee and Manatee counties…