Two local state House representatives helped shepherd a Tallahassee bill that will generate funding for Hollywood and other local governments that want to convert from septic to sewer systems.

The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 4, authorizes local governments to spend money from their central sewage systems on parts of their communities that still have septic systems, District 105 Representative Marie Woodson said. Woodson, who represents Hillcrest, carried the legislation with Dania Beach Representative Hillary Cassel. The bill, called HB 1123, became law on July 1. Woodson noted, “The law will improve wastewater management and reduce environmental contamination.”

It was needed after the City of Hollywood devised a funding plan that was struck down in court in 2019. At that time, the City wanted to take money from the revenue pool created by residents and businesses that already pay for sewer service. Now, the state law lets Hollywood do just that.

Locally, Vice Mayor Idelma Quintana offered Inside Hillcrest context about the new law, and how it will help Hollywood. As background, she said, “As a coastal city with a rising water table and intermittent periods of drought followed by extremely heavy rain, your city commission recently approved the implementation of the Stormwater Master Plan.” But implementing that plan isn’t enough; Hollywood also needs to convert a major part of the City from a septic to a sewer system. 

In email interviews, Woodson and Quintana agreed that 46% of Hollywood’s water customers, both commercial and residential, still rely on septic systems, while 54% are connected to our centralized wastewater services. This balance underscores the importance and urgency of our efforts to modernize infrastructure and protect public health, they said.

In a nutshell, protecting public health is an issue because floods can overwhelm septic systems, spewing human waste into our streets, spreading disease.

Quintana, the District 6 representative on the Hollywood City Commission, used our district to explain the implication of the septic-to-sewer change. She said, “District 6 is home to approximately 275 commercial parcels that are currently on septic, covering over 4.3 million square feet. This presents a unique opportunity for the District to lead the way in sustainable redevelopment, environmental stewardship, and economic vitality.”

Of course, Woodson and Quintana noted, the new law means Hollywood leaders must start working with residents and business owners to provide information about anticipated changes and devise a financial plan that will help people who will eventually be joining the City sewer system.

Both elected leaders emphasized the importance of public meetings to share information, answer questions, and prepare for change.

Meanwhile Woodson, who drives back and forth from her South Broward home to Tallahassee, addressed other laws that she supported and got signed into law. She said, “As state legislators, our priority should be to create and pass people-centered policies that improves their quality of life.” Woodson added, “I am happy to see the work I, along with my colleagues and stakeholders, have done to benefit Floridians.”

Woodson’s other legislative priorities include:

• Senate Bill 158 – Coverage for Diagnostic and Supplemental Breast Examinations. It was signed into law on May 21, 2025. This new law goes into effect on January 1, 2026, and it prohibits the state group insurance program from imposing any cost-sharing requirements on enrollees for diagnostic or supplemental breast examinations, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourage early detection of breast cancer.

• HB 915 – Advertisements for Representation Services was signed into law on May 23, 2025. It took effect on July 1 and prohibits notaries public from using misleading terms like notario público, Spanish for public notary, which has a different legal meaning for individuals from Latin American countries, in advertisements. It also requires unlicensed immigration service providers to display disclaimers stating these individuals are not barred immigration attorneys, with explicit civil penalties for individuals not complying with this law.