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Politics

House Looks to Limit Local Regulations

February 22, 2019 - 9:00am
Rep. Michael Grant
Rep. Michael Grant

A broad proposal aimed at curbing local business regulations advanced in a House subcommittee Thursday, despite criticism that it could block ordinances that prohibit “puppy mills” or the regulation of fertilizer use near waterways.

The Republican-dominated House Business & Professions Subcommittee voted 9-5 along party lines to approve the measure (HB 3), which seeks to eliminate existing local business regulations as of July 1, 2021 and prevent new regulations.

The bill also would lead to the state largely having control of the regulation and licensing of professions --- a concept known as state “preemption” of local authority.

The bill would allow local governments to maintain regulations but would impose strict conditions. For example, the regulations would have to be approved by supermajorities of the local governing boards and would have to be reauthorized every two years.

Bill sponsor Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte, said a driving force for the proposal is a recent move by Key West to ban suntan lotions that contain the chemicals oxybenzone or octinoxate because of worries that the substances harm coral.

“That is a concern across the state, you cannot sell a particular best-named brand of sunscreen lotion in Key West because of a concern they have for an environmental issue, whether that’s real or not,” Grant said. “Somebody told me today you’d need a half-a-billion people to jump in the ocean, all slathered in sunscreen lotion, to have an impact on the reef.”

Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, said in voting against the proposal that he supports “home rule,” noting rural communities have different issues from urban areas. Also, coastal communities could require different measures for hurricane safety from inland regions.

However, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, said people may have business interests or property in communities where they do not live. That leaves them unable to vote on local issues.

“I think many issues, where they affect beyond the borders of a city or affect beyond the borders of a county, whether it’s watershed issues or Uber (transportation issues) as we’ve dealt with in the past, those issues are best resolved here,” Fine said.

Two Republicans who voted for the bill expressed a desire to tweak it.

Rep. David Smith, R-Winter Springs, said he had been advised the measure could affect efforts to fight animal cruelty, as about 60 local governments ban or regulate pet-breeding facilities, described by critics as “puppy mills.”

Grant said he’s willing to listen to concerns about the bill. But he doesn’t want to overhaul the proposal, which must pass two more committees before it could go to the House floor during the legislative session that starts March 5.

The measure is backed by the Florida Retail Federation, Associated Industries of Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. A Senate version has not been filed.

However, the proposal has drawn widespread opposition from city and county governments, environmental organizations, unions and civil- rights groups.

David Cullen, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club, said state preemption of local authority makes sense when it offers a “floor below which no body is allowed to fall.” However, Grant’s proposal “makes a ceiling over which no locality is able to improve its environmental situation,” Cullen said.

“With respect to the Indian River Lagoon, there has been considerable concern about septic tanks and leakage into the lagoon,” Cullen said. “I would note this body (the Legislature) has been unable for years to pass a simple septic-tank inspection program. … We think it should be done at the state level, but to date it has not.”

Kurt Spitzer, a lobbyist for the Florida Stormwater Association, urged lawmakers to be cautious, noting that changes could affect local ordinances that are tougher than state requirements on issues such as nutrient management and setbacks between septic tanks and waterways.

Rich Templin, a lobbyist for the Florida AFL-CIO, argued the proposal is designed to shift power from local residents who support regulations to lobbyists for business interests in Tallahassee.

“What is happening here is an ideology and the use of a process to force that ideology on everyone across the state of Florida regardless of the nature of their community,” Templin said.

Comments

Both the fertilizer and sunscreen bans are needed if our waters are ever to recover only shows repubs are interested in screwing locals for big business...…For that reason alone DeSantis needs to veto it if it gets that far.……...I'll be watching this and letting people know who votes for it...……………...Amazing how Repubs are for home rule, smaller goverment, etc, until they are in charge...………………..And another example how corporations are the biggest problem and it is time to stop coddling them...…………. In this case buying off the repubs.

How hypocritical. Home rule only matters for the state, not the local government. But, that's what Florida's GOP have done for decades

Nothing hypocritical about it at all. When local ordinances outlaw something, like guns for instance, it can effectively make it illegal outside their boundaries if a highway runs through their municipality. Move to Massachusetts if you think it's better there.

What a lame response. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. There is no difference between state lawmakers complaining and local lawmakers. You can have far more effect locally than staye level. Look at the ridiculous nonsense over smoking medical cannabis. State lawmakers could care less what all Floridians want. They only care about their base. Which is local. The further away from you the less government cares about what you want.

This is the party of less Gov't, except when it affects our cash flow donations...

Stay with "Home Rule" - and let localities each determine their own priorities and needs.
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