TALLAHASSEE — For the last two decades, Republican lawmakers in Florida have waged a war on local control in our state. While Floridians in cities and counties throughout the state work to find regional solutions to the challenges affecting our communities, ranging from raising wages to common sense gun safety reforms to affordable housing, Republicans in the legislature, at the bequest of corporate donors, have consistently erased and prohibited these measures, ruling from Tallahassee and expanding the size of state government.
Senator Victor Torres (D-Kissimmee) and Representative Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) have filed SB 1900/HB 6113, the Restoring Local Freedom Act, to put power back in the hands of the people who know their communities best. This measure would repeal 35 state laws that remove local policy making passed by Republican legislators, ensuring that Floridians have the freedom to enact local policies that improve their lives.
“It makes absolutely no sense that we would treat communities in Liberty County the same as communities in Orange County,” said Senator Victor Torres. “The issues that affect the daily lives of rural Floridians can differ greatly from those in our urban areas and our local governments should have the freedom they need to implement the solutions they believe will work best for their constituents. The Restoring Local Freedom Act will roll back two decades of Republicans growing the size of state government in Florida and put the power back in the hands of the people, where it has always belonged.”
“With our state facing a crisis in affordable housing, a low-wage economy, and a climate emergency, it is time for Tallahassee and corporate interest to get out of the way of Floridians championing local solutions,” stated Representative Anna Eskamani. “I hope I can count on all members of the legislature to support the Restoring Local Freedom Act, so that we can work together to put freedom first for our constituents, and stop the tyranny of big state government in Florida.”
The 35 statutes repealed in the Local Freedom Act pertain to earned sick time measures, tenant protections and developer subsidies, plastic bag and styrofoam regulations, municipal broadband and 5G, gun violence and public safety, public health, clean energy, rights of nature, fertilizer regulation, and tree-trimming policy, local budgeting authority, seaport regulations, and campaign finance reform.
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