TALLAHASSEE (SNN TV) – Governor DeSantis and Florida Republicans are hoping to put more limits on local governments and make more local elections partisan.
According to the Herald-Tribune, bills are working through the Florida legislature to ask voters in 2024 to make all city, county, and school board elections partisan, meaning candidates would run with a party designation.
This comes after DeSantis campaigned for 30 school board candidates across the state.
The Republican legislature is also working on many bills to restrict cities and counties. One would require local governments to prepare a business impact estimate before adopting many ordinances and make it easier for businesses to sue them. Another bill extends attorneys’ fee award to the winners of local comprehensive plan disputes.
Many of these plans make it easier to sue government. However, state legislators who oppose these bills accuse the governor and legislature of hypocrisy, noting recent legislation that limits Floridians’ abilities to sue insurance companies, an industry that has hiked rates on Floridians.