TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate passed SB 840, a bill that would have corrected the supposedly unintended consequences of SB 180, an emergency management bill passed last year that has handcuffed Manatee County and other communities seeking to implement sustainable growth practices. Our local efforts to restore wetland protections and reinstate an urban service boundary are two examples of our new county commission being stymied by SB 180's requirements.
Despite admitting to understanding those supposedly unintended consequences, local Rep. Bill Conerly (R-Manatee County), who was backed by Big Development, did not file a companion bill, which would have greatly increased SB 840's chances of becoming law. Instead, it's been buried in a subcommittee that is not even scheduled to meet again before the session closes.
On Friday, Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orange County) filed an amendment to HB 399. Rep. Eskamani's Amendment sought to add much of the corrective language from SB 840 to the Land Use and Development Regulations bill, which was scheduled for a floor vote Tuesday morning. Activist groups, including 1000 Friends of Florida and Suncoast Waterkeeper, urged citizens to contact their representatives and ask that they support the amendment.
Unfortunately, the amendment was ruled out of order before a vote could be taken. Citing House Rule 12.9, Rep. David Borrero (R-Hialeah), who sponsored HB 399, made a point of order, arguing that the amendment was out of order. Rep. Sam Garrison, the House Rules Committee chair and incoming Speaker, agreed.
"Rule 12.9 states the floor amendment is out of order if it contains the principal substance of a bill that has not been reported favorably by at least one committee or subcommittee of reference," said Garrison. "House rules have no jurisdiction over Senate actions, including bill referrals. So, 12.9 refers only to House committees or subcommittees. This amendment is the principal substance of SB 840, which, having been reported favorably by the Senate Committees of reference, it has not been reported favorably by its House committees and thus is out of order pursuant to 12.9. I recommend that the point is well taken."
During the debate, Connerly was notably silent before voting in favor of the bill, which will be a boon for development interests.
So, there you have it, folks. Because the House buried SB 840, no fix was to be had. Connerly faces a sustainable-growth opponent in this year's Republican primary in retired Coast Guard officer John Phillips.
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GLEN GADFLY GIBELLINA
I sent this to the "elected officials" responsible for this, Feel free to copy paste and email
The Silent Gavel—How Tallahassee Silences Manatee
Masterclass in Procedural Manipulation
This morning, the Florida House chose Cowardice over Constituency. By refusing to even go on the record regarding the amendment to fix SB 180, they didn’t just fail to do their jobs—they actively subverted the democratic process.
The strategy was as cynical as it was effective. They declared the amendment "Out of Order" and then buried SB 840 by assigning it to a subcommittee that is defunct and no longer meeting. This wasn't a policy debate; it was a shell game designed to ensure a vote never happened.
"If they believed they were on the right side of this vote, they would have held it." Their refusal to stand and be counted is a confession. They knew they were wrong last year, and by hiding behind procedural tricks, they prove they are still wrong today.
The Cost of Absolute Power
I have spent my career warning about the dangers of a supermajority. When any party holds absolute control, the check-and-balance system that protects citizens disappears. We are seeing the result: local elected officials in Manatee County have their hands tied by a state government that prefers "Out of Order" rulings to open floor debates.
This isn't just about a single bill; it’s about the erosion of Home Rule. When Tallahassee manipulates the rules to avoid a record, they are effectively silencing the District 4 residents I am running to represent.
A Sad Day for Democracy
A failure to go on record is inexcusable. In Manatee, we deal with real-world problems—housing shortages, infrastructure needs, and Veteran support. We don't have the luxury of "assigning" our problems to defunct committees.
We need a change. We need leaders who aren't afraid to have their names attached to a "Yes" or "No" vote. Today was a loss for the public voice, but it serves as a stark reminder: If we want our local officials to have the power to help us, we must demand accountability from those who seek to tie their hands.
To address the procedural stall of SB 840, you’ll want to contact the House Leadership and the Rules & Ethics Committee. These are the "gatekeepers" who determine if and when a bill is scheduled for a floor vote.
House Leadership (The Ultimate Decision Makers)
The Speaker and Majority Leader control the flow of all legislation.
Name
Role
Email Address
Daniel Perez
Speaker of the House
daniel.perez@myfloridahouse.gov
Tyler Sirois
Majority Leader
tyler.sirois@myfloridahouse.gov
Fentrice Driskell
Minority Leader
fentrice.driskell@myfloridahouse.gov
House Rules & Ethics Committee
This committee specifically handles "out of order" procedural moves and sets the daily calendar. If a bill is stuck, it is often here.
Name
Role
Email Address
Sam Garrison
Chair
sam.garrison@myfloridahouse.gov
David Borrero
Vice Chair
david.borrero@myfloridahouse.gov
Michael Gottlieb
Ranking Member
michael.gottlieb@myfloridahouse.gov
Other Key Committee Members:
Jennifer Canady: jennifer.canady@myfloridahouse.gov
David Smith: david.smith@myfloridahouse.gov
Michelle Salzman: michelle.salzman@myfloridahouse.gov
Tiffany Esposito: tiffany.esposito@myfloridahouse.gov
Wednesday, March 4 Report this
teamj1009
Well our wonderful politicians who once elected could care less about us their "constituents". The below statement is "200%" correct. Is their end goal to really have no local gov't and they control everything. Everyone beware of what is happening one bite at a time.......
Wednesday, March 4 Report this
sandy
Conerly is a developer puppet and needs to be gone. He participated in at least 2 local meetings where citizens repeatedly said that SB 180 needed to be corrected so that it did not apply to new buildings or new development. SB 180 should only apply to repairing or replacing damaged buildings from the storms as it was originally intended. It should not impede local governments from enacting land development codes and stormwater regulations as they apply to new developments.
Saturday, March 7 Report this