- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs eight bills into law, addressing health care provider accountability, local government, and emergency response.
- HB 1645 establishes the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority, independent of the City Commission, with board members appointed by the governor.
- DeSantis vetoed SB 284, a bill promoting electric vehicles for government fleets, despite its wide support and potential economic and environmental benefits.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed eight bills into law today, including significant measures affecting health care provider accountability, local government, and emergency response, while vetoing an electric vehicle bill aimed at reducing the state’s environmental footprint.
Among the approved bills, HB 1645 will reorganize the Gainesville-area utility structure, establishing the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority in place of the existing agency. The authority will be a component of Gainesville’s city government, yet will function independently of the City Commission, with the governor appointing its board members. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Clemons, further limits the transfer of funds from the utility to the city.
DeSantis also signed SB 250 into law, a bill designed to streamline and improve the response to natural emergencies. The new legislation stipulates faster approval of building permits, mandates specific time frames for the removal of destroyed boats from state waters, and permits individuals to stay on their properties as they rebuild post-disaster.
However, the governor vetoed SB 284, a popular bill aimed at promoting electric vehicles for government fleets. The bill suggested that total cost of ownership, including fuel and maintenance, should be considered when procuring state vehicles. Critics point out that the bill passed 115-1 in the House and 38-0 in the Senate because they argue the measure would not only have benefited the state economically but also could have made significant strides towards a healthier environment in the state by encouraging corporate investment in renewable vehicles in Florida.The veto comes despite a recent report indicating that Florida could save almost $280 million by considering total cost of ownership in vehicle procurement decisions, a strategy already adopted by other states.
Other bills signed into law by DeSantis include HB 7027, ratifying the rules of the Department of Environmental Protection, HB 1373, concerning county constitutional officers, and a collection of bills related to specific cities in Florida. Yet the governor did not elaborate on his reasons for vetoing the electric vehicle bill.