Latest news with #SB80
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida's new parks law is just a start. Now DeSantis must enforce it.
It didn't have the pomp and circumstance that it deserved, but Gov. Ron DeSantis did the right thing — albeit grudgingly — by signing legislation into law to protect Florida's 175 state parks from encroaching development. The challenge he and future Florida governors now face is to make sure that the State Parks Preservation Act is both respected and enforced. Floridians have made their feelings known ever since last summer's disclosures that developers wanted to build golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels in nine parks, including the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The outrage started with irate park visitors protesting in front of the targeted state parks. It only grew from there as more individuals and environmental groups across the state joined the fray. Their outrage prompted local lawmakers, state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and state Reps. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Boca Raton, to file bills — SB 80 and HB 209, respectively — that received unanimous support and approval within the Florida Legislature. Editorial: Florida's new parks law is just a start in protecting our state's environment The public sent a crystal-clear message that they don't want to see the state's natural and undisturbed forests, parks and "wild" open spaces transformed into gaudy tourist traps. The bill may have become law without the fanfare of a public signing event, but the fact that the new environmental protection law now exists shows that DeSantis has gotten the peoples' memo. Floridians will be vigilant in making sure that preservation remains a priority of state government, as evidenced by the thousands of texts and phone calls received by state lawmakers before and during this year's legislative session. Also, by their reaction via emailed Letters to the Editor, op-eds, Facebook posts and more to the USA Today Network-Florida Opinion Group's unrelenting campaign to get the legislation passed and signed into law. Opinion: How Gov. Ron DeSantis can spin signing the FL 'State Park Preservation Act' The debacle that resulted in the new law came from an unlikely source — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. DEP, designed to be the lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, crafted a seemingly counterproductive initiative. Dubbed The Great Outdoors Initiative, the plan was designed to increase park interest by allowing developers to build attractions and facilities not normally associated with protected natural habitats. Access is one thing, but building three golf courses in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park, as initially proposed, is simply outrageous. Harrell was the first lawmaker to recognize the mounting outrage. In the midst of the public outcry, she announced that she would file a bill to address the mounting concerns of commercializing Florida's parks. She filed SB 80 and that bill, and its House counterpart, won unanimous approval at each committee stop. By the time, the bills reached the floors of the Florida House and Senate, it was obvious that the legislation was heading to the governor's desk. The initial statewide protests caught the eyes of many lawmakers — both state and federal. When confronted with questions about the controversial initiative that clearly came out of an agency he controlled, Gov. DeSantis initially distanced himself from the proposal. He later blamed "left-wing groups" for stirring up opposition to what was very bad plan. Neither reaction slowed the determination of Floridians who wanted their state parks to remain parks. Nine months and a 180-degrees later, DeSantis signed the bill into law, and Floridians now have a new legal layer of park protection. It's both a victory and a start. The task now for the governor, DEP officials and indeed, for all Floridians, is to ensure that the letter and spirit of the new parks law is followed to fullest extent possible. This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida has a new parks law. Enforcement must be priority | Editorial
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers introduce bill that would allow counties to test gas station fuel quality
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – If an Ohio bill is signed into law, local counties may begin testing the quality of motor fuel at gas stations. Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Sens. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) and Willis Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton), would enable county auditors to implement programs for testing the quality of motor fuel at gas stations. The legislation would permit inspectors to test for octane levels, as well as sediment and water in fuel. 'This bill represents an essential step toward protecting Ohio's consumers, promoting environmental sustainability, and ensuring the integrity of the motor fuels used by our residents every day,' Ingram said at an introductory hearing for the bill in February. While Ohio law already presents the opportunity for the state Director of Agriculture to establish a statewide motor fuel quality testing program, one has not yet been created. Ohio is one of only three states that does not have a statewide program for fuel quality testing, according to the lawmakers. In other states, inspections are typically conducted annually, while some opt to test whenever there are customer complaints. Currently, Ohio law does not allow for a quality testing program at the county level. County auditors have inspectors who visit gas stations to test for the quantity of fuel, but not quality. Low-quality fuel can lead to engine damage, reduced fuel efficiency and increased air pollution, Ingram said. Repairs needed after fueling with contaminated gas can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the damage. 'When consumers are putting gas into their car, they want to be assured that the product they are putting into their vehicle is safe, and that they are not being 'sold short,'' Blackshear said at the February hearing. 'By allowing our county auditors to implement this program they can give local consumers an enhanced peace of mind knowing that the fuel they are using has been checked and is accurate.' The bill would require fuel inspectors to relay data collected from testing programs to the Director of Agriculture, who would then compile that information and make it accessible to the public online. It would also allow each county auditor to make their own decision on if implementing a program is feasible, Blackshear said. Multiple similar bills have been introduced in past general assemblies, but have not made it through a legislative session. The most recent was introduced by Ingram in May 2024, which did not progress to the point of receiving a hearing. Currently, only Summit County operates a motor fuel quality testing program in Ohio, as it is a charter county and has certain home rule powers most other counties do not. Cuyahoga is the only other charter county in Ohio. SB 80 was assigned to the Senate's Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where it awaits proponent and opponent testimony. Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) is cosponsoring the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida's new parks law is just a start in protecting our state's environment
It didn't have the pomp and circumstance that it deserved, but Gov. Ron DeSantis did the right thing — albeit grudgingly — by signing legislation into law to protect Florida's 175 state parks from encroaching development. The challenge he and future Florida governors now face is to make sure that the State Parks Preservation Act is both respected and enforced. Floridians have made their feelings known ever since last summer's disclosures that developers wanted to build golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels in nine parks, including the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Their outrage prompted local lawmakers, state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and state Reps. John Snyder, R-Stuart, and Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Boca Raton, to file bills — SB 80 and HB 209, respectively — that received unanimous support and approval within the Florida Legislature. The public sent a crystal-clear message that they don't want to see the state's natural and undisturbed forests, parks and "wild" open spaces transformed into gaudy tourist traps. The bill may have become law without the fanfare of a public signing event, but the fact that the new environmental protection law now exists shows that DeSantis has gotten the peoples' memo. Floridians will be vigilant in making sure that preservation remains a priority of state government, as evidenced by the thousands of texts and phone calls received by lawmakers during the session. Also, by their reaction via emailed Letters to the Editor, op-eds, Facebook posts and more to the USA Today Network-Florida Opinion Group's unrelenting campaign to get the legislation passed and signed into law. Opinion: How Gov. Ron DeSantis can spin signing the FL 'State Park Preservation Act' The debacle that resulted in the new law came from an unlikely source — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. DEP, designed to be the lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, crafted a seemingly counterproductive initiative. Dubbed The Great Outdoors Initiative, the plan was designed to increase park interest by allowing developers to build attractions and facilities not normally associated with protected natural habitats. Access is one thing, but building three golf courses in the beloved Jonathan Dickinson State Park, as initially proposed, is simply outrageous. Harrell was the first lawmaker to recognize the mounting outrage. In the midst of the public outcry, she announced that she would file a bill to address the mounting concerns of commercializing Florida's parks. She filed SB 80 and that bill, and its House counterpart, won unanimous approval at each committee stop. By the time, the bills reached the floors of the Florida House and Senate, it was obvious that the legislation was heading to the governor's desk. DeSantis signed the bill, and Floridians now have a new legal layer of park protection. It's both a victory and a start. The task now for the DEP, governor and indeed, for all Floridians, is to ensure that the letter and spirit of the new parks law is followed to fullest extent possible. This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida has new state parks law. Enforcement is now key | Editorial
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Senate approves bill protecting state parks from development, but it's not a done deal yet
Dunedin City Commissioner Jeff Gow (left) during a protest at Honeymoon Island in Dunedin on August 27, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) A measure that would prevent development in state parks was passed unanimously in the Florida Senate on Wednesday, 37-0. However, the measure now must go back to the House for one more vote before it can arrive on Gov. DeSantis' desk to be signed into law. The State Park Preservation Act (HB 209) was filed last year by Southeast Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell following a statewide public backlash to the Department of Environmental Protection's 'Great Outdoor Initiative.' That plan called for building lodges, golf courses, pickleball courts, and disc golf courses in nine state parks. 'This is democracy at work,' Harrell said before the Senate passed the measure. 'This was really a grassroots endeavor that came up and the participation of so many people across the aisle, every socioeconomic group, every group that you could talk to, this was the issue of the summer. I can tell you that all the demonstrations out in the hot August sun in Florida to get out there and do that to let people know that our parks are the core of who we are.' The Florida House unanimously passed its version of the bill last week, but its Senate companion (SB 80) had not been scheduled for a vote until Wednesday, drawing concern from environmentalists that the measure wouldn't be addressed before the legislative session was scheduled to end later this week. (The session is expected to go beyond this week, however, with the two chambers at odds over the state budget). Those concerns increased earlier this week when Miami-Dade Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud added an amendment that the Sierra Club claimed in a press release was 'an obvious attempt to run out the clock.' However, Harrell gladly accepted Calatayud's amendment on Wednesday, which included language prohibiting construction of specified sporting facilities and public lodging in state parks — listing golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, or other sporting facilities that 'may not be constructed within the boundaries of state parks.' But her amendment also says that the state can continue to maintain or repair of 'any such sporting facilities, or other facilities, existing with a state park.' The bill requires the DEP to report to the governor and Legislature regarding the status and operation of state parks. Additionally, the bill revises notice requirements for public meetings. It requires individual land management plans with parcels within a state park to be developed with the input of an advisory committee. It also says that the Division of State Lands shall make available to the public an electronic copy of each land management plan at least 30 days before the public hearing required for parcels that exceed 160 acres in size and for parcels located within a state park. Panhandle Republican Sen. Don Gaetz asked Harrell whether she could assure him that there is no 'weasel word' in the bill that would 'allow any kind of commercialization of our state parks now or in the future, or in any land that would be required contiguous to our state parks?' 'There's no wiggle room for golf courses or things of that sort for that to be built within our existing state parks,' Harrell replied. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida state parks protection bill stalls in Senate near legislative session's end
A legislative effort to ensure golf courses, pickleball courts and luxury lodges are never built in state parks has stalled in the Florida Senate. The Florida House passed its version of the bill (HB 209) unanimously but its Senate companion (SB 80) has been bottled up and unable to get to the chamber floor despite clearing all its committees on unanimous votes. On April 29, Senate President Ben Albritton pulled the bill from the Senate agenda for the day after gaveling the chamber to order for an eight-hour session. The decision provides time for Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart and the bill's sponsor, to find language acceptable to park supporters and lawmakers and that is consistent with the House bill. But she doesn't have much time. As of now, lawmakers are scheduled to end their annual session May 2. The two chambers' proposals are interchangeable – until line 254. That's where Harrell's bill includes a phrase that provoked opposition from park supporters, including environmental groups like the Sierra Club, Friends of the Everglades, and 1000 Friends of Florida. While the House directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to manage the park system by 'minimizing impacts to undisturbed habitats," the Senate bill directs management plans to use 'disturbed uplands regions to the maximum extent practicable.' Environmentalists said that ambiguous phrase is vague enough to create loopholes that would allow the very amenities that provoked a public uproar when first announced. Park supporters put up a website urging lawmakers to 'Strengthen SB 80' and called on supporters to tell lawmakers to rewrite it with language that specifies precisely what is prohibited at state parks. And while Harrell worked on the bill, 1000 Friends sent out an e-mail alert to urge supporters "to contact your Senator and ask him or her to take up HB 209 in place of SB 80 to ensure that Florida's state parks are protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy." Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, a co-sponsor of Harrell's bill, said the opposition has a point and new language is needed: 'I think there's some stuff in there that gets the camel's nose back under the tent in terms of golf courses,' he said during a lunch break. Management of Florida's award-winning 175 state parks became an issue last summer when the Department of Environmental Protection announced a Great Outdoors Initiative. The Initiative included construction of golf and pickleball courses and overnight luxury lodges at places like Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County, along with a flying disc course at the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee. Gov. Ron DeSantis shelved the proposal after public protest at DEP's headquarters in Tallahassee and at state parks across the state. Park advocates then sought legislation to prevent the additions. Harrell and Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, filed bills that both said would prevent the projects in the Great Outdoors Initiative. On April 29, senators OK'd a motion to allow all bills "temporarily postponed" to be available for consideration till the end of session. A stalemate over the 2025-26 state budget prompted speculation that the 2025 regular session would be extended into the following week, meaning that bills like Harrell's would still be alive. Later in the day, however, the Senate's budget chair – Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater – suggested that the impasse would be handled by adjourning the regular session outright and returning to Tallahassee to finish the budget in a special session, meaning all bills that hadn't passed both chambers would be dead. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida bill to stop state park development stalls late in session
