We need your help in opposing House
Bill 203 which is likely to come up for a vote on Thursday, March 6th.
This bill would require that each local comprehensive plan include
a new private property rights element. Private property rights are already
protected under the federal and state constitutions and statutorily through the
Bert Harris Act.
HB 203 will lead to state-wide inconsistent results on what
constitutes a private property right because each local government could define
it differently in its comprehensive plan. It creates nothing but a bureaucratic
paperwork requirement at the taxpayer's expense that adds nothing to existing
property rights protections.
Please call your State
Representative and ASK HIM OR HER TO VOTE NO on HB 203!
HB 203 has other damaging provisions. Last year, a law was
passed that requires that local comprehensive plans adopted after January 1, 2019, and all land development regulations
adopted to implement the plan, must incorporate development orders existing
before the comprehensive plan’s effective date. This year, HB 203, extends the
applicability deadline by providing that all local comprehensive plans effective, rather than adopted, after
January 1, 2019, and all land development regulations adopted to implement the
plan, must incorporate development orders existing before the plan’s effective
date. Since the effective date is potentially after the
adoption date, this change would bring more local comprehensive plans under its
influence.
The bill also allows a prevailing party in an action
challenging an ordinance related to local growth policy and land development
regulations, which is determined or found to be expressly preempted by the Florida
Constitution or law, to collect attorney fees and costs. This will effectively
end citizen challenges.
In short, HB 203 will have a chilling effect on growth
management in Florida.
Please call your State
Representative and ASK HIM OR HER TO VOTE NO on HB 203!
