The Florida Senate Committee has advanced a bill that removes local government control over the construction and operation of presidential libraries. Sen. Jason Brodur, sponsoring the bill, is citing past zoning conflicts between President Trump and Palm Beach, aiming to prevent potential obstacles to local government. If passed, the bill would prohibit local governments from enforcing regulations regarding presidential libraries unless approved by federal law.
TALHASSEE — A proposal to block local government oversight of the construction and management of the presidential library expected in Florida for President Donald Trump cleared its first Senate committee on Tuesday.
Without comment, the Senate Community Affairs Committee unanimously agreed to measures submitted by Sen. Jason Brodur of R-Sanford (SB 118) to prevent local governments from regulating the construction and operation of presidential libraries. I supported it.
Brodeur said after the meeting local governments would like to ensure that a library will be built in Florida and that they do not impose any predictions that Trump will be a Palm Beach resident.
“I think Florida has history in the state of local government that has put President Trump into issues with some of the zoning issues he has, whether it’s helicopter pads or the size of the flag. “We do,” says Brodeur. “There are very few in the US because we actually have the opportunity to have our first presidential library (in Florida)… This is really a landmark for Florida. And we I wanted to make sure I deployed the welcome mat as much as possible.”
According to the Palm Beach Post, in 2006, Trump fought Palm Beach after placing an 80-foot pole at the entrance to his Marlago club. Trump complained after the town said the town had surpassed the height and location ordinance. The settlement has led Trump to install a 70-foot pole elsewhere in the club.
In 2017, Palm Beach approved the creation of a Marine 1 helicopter landing pad at Mar-a-Lago through a solution. The resolution supported by the US Marines for security reasons received some degree of pushback. One resident claimed to land a helicopter, claiming it would exceed the town’s noise limit.
Brodeur’s bill will be submitted for consideration during the legislative meeting, which begins on March 4th. Local governments prohibit the creation or implementation of ordinances, resolutions or rules relating to the Presidential Library, except as approved by federal law.
Rep. Alex Andrade of R-Pensacola introduced the same bill to the House (HB 69).
Currently, the Presidential Library of Donald J. Trump is a website managed by the National Archives and the Bureau of Records. It has been in operation since Trump resigned in 2021 after his first term. He returned to the White House last month.
The National Archives system operates 13 presidential libraries in 10 states. President Barack Obama’s library is under construction in Chicago, making it the 14th in the system.
The four libraries are linked to the university. Brodeur said he hopes the University of Florida system will “welcome” such conversations.
