Yesterday, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 540, a bill that would harm clean water progress and the concerned citizens who fight so hard to protect our environment. As we speak, this bill is heading to the desk of Governor DeSantis, but there is still time to act!

SB 540 allows “prevailing party” attorney fees in Comprehensive Plan Amendment challenges. What does this mean? It means if citizens or public interest groups challenge a local comprehensive plan amendment and lose, they could be required to pay for the legal costs incurred by deep-pocketed developers and local governments. This is an intimidation tactic used to stifle concerned citizens who advocate for important environmental protections, paving the way for irresponsible sprawl that could jeopardize our local environment. 

This bill would undermine the will of local communities who want to protect their environment. This bill also runs counter to the Governor's Executive Order 23-06, in which he states his commitment to: "Improve local government long-term comprehensive planning that ensures sustainable growth while protecting our natural resources."

Florida Oceanographic Society is committed to the continued protection of our local environment, which this bill would harm. We ask that you join us in demanding Governor DeSantis to use his Executive power to veto this bad bill and safeguard our environment and our ability to protect it.