Senate committee backs narrower post-storm planning limits, trims 100-mile rule to 50 miles

Senator DeSiglia presented SB 840 as a targeted correction to provisions in last year's SB 180 that unintentionally imposed broad land-use limits after storms. "This bill will sunset those limitations on June 30 so that the proposed amendments… will go into effect immediately thereafter on July 1," DeSiglia said, adding that the bill narrows the geographic scope from 100 miles to 50 miles and requires FEMA disaster-declaration inclusion.

Local officials, including Janet Wilson (vice mayor of Indian Rocks Beach) and George Cruz (Manatee County Commission), testified in support, saying the 2024 storm season and a late amendment to SB 180 created burdensome and unclear restrictions that affected redevelopment and local growth management. Cruz asked the Senate to pass the bill to provide local governments clarity and restore expected local control.

Committee debate was limited and generally supportive; DeSiglia said the change aims to strike balance between emergency safeguards and routine local planning actions. The committee reported SB 840 favorably (9–0).

The bill moves forward with committee recommendation; members signaled interest in reconciling House companion language.