Latest news with #LindsayCross
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida state parks gain new protections after DeSantis signs ‘State Land Management' bill into law
The Brief Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 209, the "State Land Management" bill, into law on Thursday. It will give Florida's almost 200 state parks more protections that will help prevent development. The bill was the product of controversy last year, after they said a whistleblower brought attention to possible plans to allow development at several state parks. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Almost 200 parks across Florida will now have more protections. Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 209, the "State Land Management" bill, into law on Thursday. The Legislature approved the bill, which aims to prevent development in state parks, unanimously. PREVIOUS: State parks bill teed up in Florida Senate What they're saying "The idea of putting golf courses and mega-hotels in our state parks, as Floridians, we're just not going to stand for it," Rep. Lindsay Cross said. The new law will require public hearings for all updated conservation and non-conservation land management plans. "Just strengthening the policy in the bill that would require for there to be public facing processes," Rep. Anna Eskamani said. RELATED: State employee fired over leak of Florida park development plans The backstory State lawmakers said this bill was the product of controversy last year, after they said a whistleblower brought attention to possible plans to allow development at several state parks. The proposals included things like pickleball courts and a hotel. However, earlier this month, DeSantis was asked if he would sign the bill into law, to which he said yes. The bill received strong support from residents around the state and state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. "I do think the environment continues to be one of those topics that can build bridges," Eskamani said. "And oftentimes, it's not red versus blue. It's people versus corporations." The bill was also met with loud support from residents across the state. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper State lawmakers say the new law also outlines things you can and cannot do on state park land. "Things like hiking, bird watching, really more passive recreation, things that doesn't require the creation of a pickleball court or a golf course that uses lots of fertilizer and water," Cross said. "Those really nature-based activities. And then, it outlines some of the that things that you can't do, such as golf courses or tennis or pickleball courts there. It also limits the type of lodging that we can have." What's next State leaders said this new legislation sends the message that this land isn't for sale. Some lawmakers said this is just a step in a long-term effort to protect the environment. The new law takes effect on July 1. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida state parks now legally protected from commercial development
May 23 (UPI) -- State parks in Florida are now protected from commercial construction after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the State Park Preservation Act into law Thursday. The act, which will take effect in July, prevents developers from constructing hotels, golf courses or other commercial enterprises in any of Florida's 175 state parks. Pinellas County Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross, who also is an environmental scientist, posted to social media Friday that the act establishes "protections for all 175 state parks against commercial development," and also thanked "everyone who fought for this bill, and who stood up to preserve our home." Republican Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, Highland Beach, called the passage of the act a "bipartisan, bicameral legislative victory," on her X account Thursday, and then quoted "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss to close her post with "I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." The new law came after a backlash caused by a purported plan proposed by the state in 2024 and allegedly leaked by the Florida Wildlife Federation to allow commercial development at nine different state parks. All future developments are not completely banned but will instead need to be conservation-minded, and support nature-friendly activities such as camping, hiking and kayaking. The Florida Wildlife Federation posted a note of appreciation to its website Thursday, with thanks given to the Florida Senate and House "for their unanimous support of this legislation every step of the way," and it called the law "a massive win for wildlife, outdoor spaces, and future generations who will get to experience Florida's natural wonders just as they should be: wild and natural."
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School security on the agenda in Tallahassee even before mass shooting at FSU
The Brief There are a number of bills that could impact school security being considered this session in Tallahassee. The deadline to establish this came before the shooting at FSU on Thursday. A bill to allow guns on college campuses failed in a Senate committee last month. TAMPA - There are a number of bills that could impact school security being considered this session in Tallahassee, but the deadline to establish final committee hearings for the session came before the shooting at Florida State University. Lawmakers appear to be sticking with what they had planned. The backstory The biggest question has been whether the state should change part of the law passed after the Parkland shooting to lower the age of gun purchases from 21 to 18. For the third year in a row, the House has passed the bill to again allow 18-year-olds to buy shotguns and rifles. However, the Senate does not have any committee hearings scheduled for the bill in that chamber, so its prospects do not look good. A bill to allow guns on college campuses failed in a Senate committee last month. What they're saying "You can have the argument on both sides of the issue," said Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County. "Quite frankly, I am not sure that 18-to-22-year-old boys in a frat house on a Friday night need guns. But I can tell you, unequivocally, if you had the right person armed with a gun at that moment in time there, they could have stopped it before it got to where it was." There were concerns that the presence of more guns in a shooting would make it harder for police to respond. "Imagine just having more people on campus with guns and law enforcement not knowing who is the good person with the gun versus the bad guy with the gun," said State Rep. Lindsay Cross, "I think it can just lead to even more tragedy and chaos." There is one bill moving that some say could tangentially impact school safety. The House has unanimously passed a bill that would ban cellphones not on college campuses, but on the state's public school campuses. Some parents were concerned that it could limit the ability to reach students in an emergency, or vice versa. But lawmakers found that schools function much better and that bullying is limited when phones are not being used. They will still be able to be in a student's possession, however. School districts will be allowed to establish special phone zones that can only be used with permission. What's next There is a bill that has passed the Senate that beefs up training for security guards and guardians, establishes an emergency alert and mapping system, and strengthens requirements around locked doors. That is expected to continue moving through the House. The Source Information for the story was gathered by FOX 13 reporter Evan Axelbank. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida lawmakers eye changes after 2024 hurricane season
From holding down property taxes on homes rebuilt after hurricanes to new post-storm rules for elections supervisors, the Florida House on Tuesday started moving forward with a proposal to address issues whipped up during the damaging 2024 hurricane season. The House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee unanimously approved a wide-ranging bill (HB 1535) that also seeks to look at shelter regulations, address debris cleanup in rural 'fiscally constrained' counties and direct how cranes are positioned when storms approach landfall. Bill sponsor Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, said the proposal is the product of 'feedback from our local governments. It's feedback from the Realtors. It's feedback from homeowners associations, from builders, from environmentalists, emergency managers, and all of that is boiled into this bill.' Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, suggested more clarity for long-term local government plans. 'The time after a storm is maybe one of the only opportunities when communities can look at being more resilient or being more proactive, when residents finally understand what it means to be impacted and how this could not only happen in the future but be worse,' Cross said. The bill would prohibit counties under federal disaster declarations from Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton from imposing moratoriums that affect rebuilding storm-damaged properties through Oct. 1, 2027. Local governments, school districts and special districts would also be prohibited from imposing impact fees when post-storm rebuilding doesn't change previous land-use designations. Also, residents would be allowed to rebuild homesteaded property up to 130 percent larger than the pre-hurricane 'footprint' without facing increases in their appraised property values. 'Many of our residents that are in the coastal area had to lift as they had to elevate as they rebuild,' McFarland said. 'And it's almost impossible to lift your home and not have the footprint increase, whether it's adding an external stairway or, you know, more provisions for your utilities. Almost everyone who is lifting their home to rebuild has to increase their footprint.' The proposal also calls for state agencies to work with local governments to streamline permitting to repair and rebuild damaged structures. Also under the proposal, if an emergency is declared by the governor within 60 days of an election, county elections supervisors could change locations of early voting sites, expand the early voting period to the day before an election and request approval from the secretary of state that early voting locations be used on election day. Supervisors could also take steps such as sending vote-by-mail ballots to displaced people. Contingency plans would need to be set in case elections are suspended, delayed or rescheduled due to an emergency. Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida, called the proposal a 'step in the right direction' for voters and a 'strong start' for elections supervisors. 'No disaster-affected voters should be forced to submit more paperwork or drive across the county just to cast their ballot,' Keith said. 'What they need is accessible voting options and easy access to information about those options.' The legislation also addresses a construction crane that wasn't taken down before Hurricane Milton slammed St. Petersburg last year. The crane collapsed into an office building. The bill would require that 24 hours before anticipated hurricane impacts, all hoisting equipment would have to be secured to comply with manufacturer recommendations, which could include removing advertising, laying down fixed booms where feasible and setting towers in a 'weathervane position.' The legislation also would require the Florida Division of Emergency Management to conduct a study on the statewide needs of emergency shelters, including accommodations for people with developmental disabilities and the availability of space for pets. The division would also be directed to coordinate debris removal with fiscally constrained counties in areas where emergencies have been declared. Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene made landfall last year in rural Taylor County, while Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County. Rep. Jason Shoaf, a Port St. Joe Republican whose district includes Taylor County, described the bill as 'much needed' for North Florida's Big Bend region. Shoaf added he looked forward to 'getting a grip on the fiscal' impacts. McFarland said she 'cherry picked' ideas from other bills in the House and Senate and intends to continue revising the bill. It needs to clear two more House panels before it could go to the full House. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Our food is literally killing us': FL lawmakers propose warning labels for certain foods
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Concerns around ultra-processed foods and synthetic dyes have state lawmakers pushing legislation to ban chemical additives and require stronger warning labels. Florida lawmakers are demanding change in the food found in schools and what you buy in grocery stores. In a bipartisan move, lawmakers at the statehouse have filed several bills to tackle concerns around harmful chemicals found in Floridians' everyday diets. One bill looks to make nutrition labels a little bit more like warning labels, highlighting the negative impacts it has on children. Fired workers return to federal agencies — but are put on paid leave 'We cannot continue to ignore the truth about what is found in our food,' said State Rep. Debra Tendrich, D-Lake Worth. In a step toward a healthier Florida, lawmakers across chambers have several bills aimed at holding businesses accountable in the food industry and protecting the health of all Floridians.'Let's just be real, it's time we clean up our food system here in Florida,' said State Representative Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. Senate Republicans are diving into the chemicals found in our food, while House Democrats are fighting for transparency on food labels. House Bill 641 seeks to require clear warning labels on food and beverages containing harmful dyes and also looks to task the state's department of agriculture and consumer services with inspections to ensure compliance.'Our food is literally killing us, but it's a slow tortured death that first robs us of you, of your health… And then eventually robs you of your life span, which is, by the way, shorter than it's ever been in our history,' said Todd Wagner, Co-founder of FoodFight USA. Florida could ban these chemical additives in foods by 2028 if bill passes The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently banned the use of red dye No. 3, and as food additive concerns rise on the federal stage, some Florida lawmakers are asking, 'What's the rush to speed past those efforts here on the state level?''Should we wait until the federal government completes their work so there's a uniform regulation?' said State Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. In response, State Senator Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said, 'I think waiting on the federal government has proven to be not beneficial to Floridians in a number of respects.' In a separate bill, Senator Martin's efforts to ban chemical additives in foods by 2028 passed out of its first committee, which gives lawmakers across the chamber hope that their bill will do the advocates and lawmakers note major food companies have reformulated their products for other countries, while it remains unclear if they will do that here at home in the Sunshine State. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
