LWVCC Opposes SB 180 Limits on Local Control
Stacy Vermylen & Judy Hushon | Published on 10/15/2025
In the last Florida legislative session, Senate Bill 180 was approved by both houses and signed by Governor DeSantis. This bill focused on restrictions on the ability of communities such as Naples to make any changes to ordinances or regulations that affect future development. Originally created to halt burdensome regulations for residents after hurricane damage, the bill was amended on the last day of the session with a provision called "Local Government Land Regulation." This amendment restricts all Florida local governments from managing their own comprehensive plans and future growth through regulations and ordinances for three years following a designated storm (retroactively to August of 2024). The law accomplishes this by stating that any change to a local comprehensive plan or land-development regulation that is considered “more restrictive or burdensome” would be barred. Private parties, including developers, have the power to argue against plan elements, such as impact fees, thereby gaining veto power over plans created by a locally run process.
One of the serious repercussions of the law is that it limits communities across Florida from being able to adopt measures to increase resiliency and safety, a major Naples initiative. One further example of the law's impact would be to shift control of Naples Airport, thereby reducing the local community’s ability to safely manage the airport’s growth and safety.
The reaction from municipal governments across the state was a strong protest, and several municipalities, including the City of Naples, have joined together in a lawsuit to fight. The LWVFL opposed the initial bill even before this amendment, but now strongly opposes it and supports efforts to reverse this provision. In effect, SB 180 facilitates a structural change away from local community government; it undermines “home rule” and moves power away from local citizens and their representatives.
LWVCC encourages community members to contact their state senators and representatives, urging them to fight this provision in SB180 that restricts local control of critical resiliency, growth, and safety plans for Naples, Collier County, and all of Florida.