To the Editor:
Florida has taken away our rights under home rule in numerous ways. The upcoming property tax relief referendum is just a continuation of those efforts in Tallahassee. If the referendum passes, we will be looking more and more at Tallahassee when things go wrong locally, rather than solving our local issues locally.
Other instances when home rule has been taken away and put under Tallahassee control:
- HB 1417 (2023) – Residential Tenancies: Preempted many local tenant and landlord regulations, preventing counties and cities from adopting their own protections.
- SB 170 (2023) – Local Ordinances: Made it more difficult and more expensive for counties and cities to adopt and defend local ordinances by adding new state requirements and litigation risks.
- HB 433 (2024) – Employment Regulations: Prevented local governments from adopting certain worker heat-protection requirements and other local employment standards.
- HB 1281 (2023) – Utility Service Restrictions: Prevented local governments from regulating certain utility services and appliance choices within their communities.
Bills that primarily benefited statewide development, builders, utilities, or other large industries by limiting local review:
- SB 102 (2023) – Live Local Act: Overrode portions of local zoning, density, height, and public-hearing authority for qualifying affordable housing developments.
- SB 328 (2024) – Live Local Act Expansion: Further limited local zoning authority, including restrictions on floor-area ratios and other development standards.
- SB 1080 (2025) – Local Government Land Regulation: Required counties and cities to process development applications under state-mandated timelines and procedures, reducing local flexibility.
- HB 1645 (2024) – Energy Resources: Limited aspects of local authority over energy infrastructure and required certain comprehensive plan accommodations for energy facilities.
- SB 280 (2024) – Vacation Rentals (passed the Legislature but was vetoed): Would have expanded state preemption over local vacation rental regulation and enforcement.
Ash Marwah
Village of Belvedere