In the last few days of the 2019 legislative session, HB 7103 became a magnet for bad amendments that would undermine the power of locally elected officials and citizens to shape the future of their communities in the state of Florida.
As it stands now, if signed by the Governor, 7103:
• Makes citizens and others who challenge development proposals and lose automatically liable for paying for the prevailing party’s attorney fees.
• For new towns, requires local governments to adopt policies in comprehensive plans based on developers’ plans for growth, rather than on the input of local residents.
• Restricts whether local governments may require that affordable housing be part of any new development.
The Guardians of Martin County urge the Governor to Veto HB 7103 for the following reasons:
“Unfortunately, HB 7103 threatens the defensibility of our Comprehensive Plan. Under Florida law, the possibility of citizen enforcement through legal challenge is a key tool that ensures that local governments comply with their comprehensive plans. But HB 7103 would require citizen groups like ours must automatically pay a local government’s legal fees, and those of a challenged developer, if we were to bring a lawsuit to enforce the Martin County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan and lose. This increased risk of I itigation stands in the way of our rights to see growth in the county that is consistent with t!ie law.
Read the GMC letter here:
Signed GOMC letter memo to Gov DeSantis to veto HB 7301
Read the letter from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council here:
Letter to Governor Ron DeSantis – House Bill 7103