Governor should veto anti-home rule legislation

June 17, 2025

Editor, The Beacon:

The 2025 Florida Legislative session has once again highlighted a growing concern regarding the principle of home rule — the understanding that local governments are often best positioned to govern their communities. It is essential to recognize that Florida’s cities are unique, each with their own challenges and opportunities.

June 17, 2025

Editor, The Beacon:

The 2025 Florida Legislative session has once again highlighted a growing concern regarding the principle of home rule — the understanding that local governments are often best positioned to govern their communities. It is essential to recognize that Florida’s cities are unique, each with its own challenges and opportunities.

It is encouraging to see some legislators starting to acknowledge the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. However, despite expressing concerns, many continue to support bills that pre-empt local government authority, with the hope that solutions will emerge later. Unfortunately, by that time, the impact on local control may already be significant.

From coastal areas like St. Augustine and Naples to inland cities such as Gainesville and Lakeland, as well as growing suburban communities like Deltona, DeBary and Winter Garden, each locality has its own distinct needs. Policies effective in urban centers like Miami may not be suitable for smaller cities like Deltona, and zoning solutions appropriate for Orlando could be impractical for historic areas like DeLand.

Two pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 180 and Senate Bill 1730, along with companion House Bill 943, exemplify this trend of undermining local governance. Senate Bill 1730 presents challenges to local land-use planning, potentially limiting municipalities’ ability to guide growth in ways that align with their long-term character and infrastructure. House Bill 943 extends pre-emptions that threaten to override carefully developed local policies aimed at addressing unique community concerns, including environmental protection, traffic management and economic development.

Recently, these bills were merged under SB 1730 and passed in both legislative chambers.

Of particular concern, these measures, along with the 2023 Live Local Act, may restrict residents from participating in discussions about development projects in their own communities and neighborhoods.

This legislation not only prevents local officials from presenting Live Local projects to city councils, but may also prohibit public discussions about such projects, regardless of whether local communities already have sufficient affordable-housing options.

This trend continues a pattern where key decisions about local issues are made at the state level, often by individuals who may not fully understand the nuances of those communities. Moreover, the implementation of these projects places a disproportionate financial burden on smaller municipalities, where the cost per household can be significantly higher compared to larger cities that can distribute infrastructure costs over a broader population base.

It is vital to recognize that cities and counties are not merely extensions of the state; they are essential partners in governance. Local governments are closest to the people they serve, and city councils and mayors are directly accountable to their constituents.

When the Legislature overrides local decisions from afar, it limits flexibility and responsiveness, ultimately diminishing citizen engagement.

Home rule transcends partisan divides; it represents a commitment to effective governance. If we genuinely value accountability, transparency and civic engagement, we must empower local communities to determine what is best for their residents.

Smaller municipalities need the flexibility to balance affordable housing with considerations of infrastructure, zoning and community character. To ensure a strong, resilient, and diverse future for Florida, it is crucial that we respect the distinctiveness of our cities and allow them the autonomy to make their own decisions.

A tailored approach to governance is not only practical but necessary. We encourage everyone to reach out to Gov. DeSantis to advocate for a veto of SB 180 and HB 1730.

David Sosa

Deltona

Posted on 29 Jul 2025, 23:07 - Category: SB 180 and HB 1730.