Florida’s 2021 legislative session isn’t over.
But it is winding down.
And Holmes Beach officials are making sure state lawmakers hear their opinions.
Holmes Beach commissioners voted 5-0 April 13 to adopt a resolution supporting a pair of legislative bills — Senate Bill 596 and House Bill 6023 — that would repeal state preemption of tree pruning, trimming and removal regulations.
The bills would repeal previous state preemptions by restoring “the rights of local governments to enact and/or enforce local ordinance and regulations related to pruning, trimming, or removal of trees on residential property within their respective corporate limits.”
Commissioner Carol Soustek said the bills are important to the city and, if passed, the city could resume work that ended in 2019 on a tree protection ordinance.
“We almost had a tree ordinance done and it was snatched away,” Soustek said. “Now, you see people cutting down trees right and left because they gave them loopholes.”
The tree bills were introduced by state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, and Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando. The House held a first reading March 2 but had yet to discuss it further as of April 15, while the Senate measure remained with the Rules Committee.
City commissioners unanimously voted to adopt another resolution, this one opposing House Bill 883 and its companion, Senate Bill 60, which would prevent code enforcement departments from investigating anonymous complaints.
City attorney Patricia Petruff said the measures could impact the city’s ability to combat violations.
“Traditionally, code enforcement complaints have been allowed to be anonymous because, frankly, a lot of people are frightened of retaliation from their neighbors,” Petruff said.
The House bill, introduced by state Rep. Tobin Overdorf, R-Port St. Lucie was undergoing discussion by the State Affairs Committee. It passed through the Public Integrity & Elections Committee.
The Senate companion bill for eliminating anonymous complaints was introduced by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island. It passed March 25 in the Senate on a 27-11 vote on a third reading.
Holmes Beach’s resolutions directed city clerk Stacey Johnston to send the documents to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the leaders of both legislative chambers, the Florida League of Cities and Manatee County municipalities.
The legislative session began March 2 and will adjourn April 30.
The city previously adopted a resolution urging Florida legislators to oppose any measure that would prohibit the municipality from regulating vacation rentals, such as House Bill 219 and its companion, Senate Bill 522, both still in play in the respective houses.
The bills would preempt vacation rental regulations established after 2011 to the state.
The House bill was introduced by state Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Duval County, and is in the Ways & Means Committee after passing through the Regulatory Reform Subcommittee in February.
Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, filed the companion bill in the Senate, where it is in review by the Rules Committee, having passed through the Appropriations Committee March 11 on a 13-5 vote.
Another bill of interest to island officials would allow counties to dip into revenue derived from the tourist development tax on rental accommodations of six months or less to combat sea level rise — a major issue on the island’s horizon.
The House bill on the “bed tax” was introduced by state Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs. It passed in the House March 14 on a 114-2.
The Senate companion bill — introduced by Diaz — was is in the Community Affairs Committee for discussion as of April 15.