In preparation for the 2021 Florida Legislative Session that begins on March 2, 2021, Scott Dudley, Director of Field Advocacy with the Florida League of Cities, was the guest speaker at the Beaches Watch meeting on Wednesday, February 3. During the Legislative Session, the Florida League of Cities provides a strong and influential presence at the state Capitol. By utilizing their new, three-pronged approach of lobbying the state and federal governments, building a grassroots network to increase citizen support, and delivering strategic communications to reinforce key messages, the Florida League of Cities will be working to protect Home Rule in 2021.

In this meeting, Scott spoke about Home Rule and why it is important to our beaches communities. Scott also discussed important 2021 legislative bills and shared ways you can get involved in the Florida League of Cities grassroots network to protect Home Rule for our beaches during the Legislative Session.

To receive legislative alerts via email and/or text:

Text HOME RULE to 50457
You will receive a text with a link to complete a form with your alert preferences (i.e. text and/or email)
You will begin to receive alerts about important bills with information about the legislators to contact before important committee hearings.

To receive the Florida League of Cities Alerts or their weekly updates via email:

CLICK HERE
Complete the form
Select ON TAP @ THE CAP for weekly email updates
Select Legislative Alerts for email alerts about bills when action is needed

The 2021 Florida Legislative Session will begin March 2, 2021 and end April 30, 2021.

LEARN ABOUT 2021 BILLS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR BEACH COMMUNITIES:

Vacation Rentals: SB 522 and HB 219

The state legislature is considering bills that would pre-empt local governments from regulating, licensing and inspecting vacation rentals. These bills will Undo any local registration, inspection or licensing requirements specific to short-term rentals adopted since 2014.

Scott Dudley talks about this legislation in the Beaches Watch meeting beginning at 25:15.

Read talking points about the vacation rental issue HERE.

Home-based Businesses: HB 403 and SB 266

The state legislature is considering bills that would pre-empt local governments from regulating and licensing home-based businesses in residential neighborhoods. This will allow ANY commercial business to operate out of a home in a residential neighborhood. Imagine an auto repair business, air conditioning business, or other commercial business opening next to your home. Allowing unregulated home-based businesses would mean increased customers, traffic, noise, deliveries, nuisances and health and safety issues impacting the quality of life of neighboring residents.

Scott Dudley talks about this legislation in the Beaches Watch meeting beginning at 24:30.

Combatting Public Disorder: HB 1 and SB 484

The Florida League of Cities is concerned with provisions that would make it hard for a municipality to reduce their law enforcement budget and would hold municipalities liable for any damages caused by a riot if a municipality interferes with law enforcement’s ability to provide reasonable law enforcement protection.

Scott Dudley talks about this legislation in the Beaches Watch meeting beginning at 27:20.

WATCH THE MEETING VIDEO TO LEARN MORE:

If you missed the meeting with Scott Dudley, you can watch the meeting video here and listen to Scott’s comments about the proposed bills and how citizens can get involved:

Learn About the 2021 Legislative Session and Get Involved!