TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Florida is just a few days away from the start of the hurricane season, and NOAA predicts more than the average season to come. State lawmakers hope their latest hurricane bill will help ease the recovery process, but not everyone has been behind the efforts from the start.
Lawmakers from the Hurricane Building Package (SB 180) pushed the finish line. It aims to help Floridians rebuild after future storms, increasing disaster planning at the local level. But critics of the bill say it can actually prevent resilience after a hurricane hit.
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“I think it’s going to make our state stronger in the future and it’s going to help our people recover from a really bad hurricane year,” state Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota).
McFarland, sponsor of the bill, says there is no “complete” bill, but he is proud of the work she and her colleagues have done this session.
However, that did not stop local lawmakers from raising concerns about the language of the bill during committee discussions.
“There’s a lot of great things about this bill, but I think we still have a little more work to do,” state Rep. Linda Cheney (R-St. PeteBeach).
She is particularly concerned about the section that focuses on returning after the storm. The bill language could add restrictions to local disaster recovery (LDR) and comprehensive emergency management plans (Complanes).
“It’s a hurricane every year and we’re always 100 miles off the track. It’s essentially telling all local governments that you can’t change your competition and your LDR more restrictively,” said Cheney.
Chaney added that coastal counties are flying red flags, pointing to unintended consequences that could limit local governments that want to develop and restore property.
Along with Florida League of City, representing Florida cities, towns and villages, Matthew Singer reflects those statements.
“Whether it’s anti-growth benefits or business competitors, cities that update their drainage systems or approve new projects after a storm can face legal challenges if someone claims it will be a burden on their business and that it may slow recovery and progress,” Singer said.
The bill’s sponsors share that lawmakers will learn something new during and after each hurricane season, and they hope they will continue to work with Floridians and local governments across the state to develop future laws for the next year.
Desantis has not signed the bill into law yet. He also has the option to refuse it, but local lawmakers don’t think it’s happening and believe they’ll get a green light from the governor.
