by Mitch Maley
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House showed its priorities in the first bill to pass through its chamber this session, one written by lobbyists for the phosphate industry that would make it harder for them to get sued and easier to redevelop their land.
HB 167 – Former Phosphate Mining Lands would help multi-billion-dollar phosphate giant Mosaic avoid lawsuits related to radiation on its former mining sites, making it easier to redevelop the more than 200 square miles of former phosphate mines it owns across the state. Mosaic actually provided lawmakers with the original draft of the legislation. Republican Senate President Ben Albritton, a longtime friend of the company whose district includes most of its properties, has been instrumental in advancing the bill.
The closer you look, the worse the port bill gets
Florida House Bill 4073 is even worse than we thought. The bill would reclassify the Manatee County Port Authority from a “dependent” special district to an “independent” special district, thereby giving the port its own autonomous governing board. This could have several implications for land use governance.
The bill grants the Port Authority the power to manage its own infrastructure construction and property acquisition. Independent port districts in Florida are often granted exclusive jurisdiction over land use and zoning within their boundaries. While their master plans must generally remain consistent with the local comprehensive plan, the county’s standard Land Development Code and zoning process would no longer apply to the port’s internal projects.
The bill specifies that all property owned by the port is exempt from local taxes and clarifies its status as a “political subdivision of the state,” which often shields its operations from certain municipal or county-level regulations. The bill could also affect a proposed cruise ship hub near Rattlesnake Key. By restructuring the Manatee County Port Authority into an independent special district, the bill would broaden the port’s autonomy to include any “port facilities” within its jurisdiction.
The bill defines “port facilities” as not just the current SeaPort Manatee site, but also any harbors, wharves, docks, and “projects” intended to aid the shipment of freight or passengers by water. Any new “major hub,” such as the proposed cruise port hub, would likely fall under the new independent board’s governance.
Reign in ICE agents?
Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) wants to curb lawlessness by ICE agents. SB 316: Law Enforcement and Immigration Officer Identifying Information and Face Coverings would require immigration officers to wear specified visible identification during public immigration enforcement functions; create requirements for such visible identification; prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings in the performance of their official duties, etc.
Given that Smith is a Democrat and that support for ICE agents remains high among Republican politicians, this bill does not stand a good chance of passing.
Email your Manatee County legislators and let them know what you think of these bills:
Senator Jim Boyd: boyd.jim.web@flsenate.gov
Rep. Will Robinson: Will.Robinson@flhouse.gov
Rep. Bill Conerly: Bill.Conerly@flhouse.gov