Town Attorney (summary presented to council) described Senate Bill 180 as a substantial change to planning authority in Florida and urged council members to consider participating in a multi-municipality legal challenge. The attorney said the legislation can limit municipal ability to change comprehensive plans and land-development regulations, reaches retroactively to Nov. 1, 2024, and may remain in effect through 2027 and beyond when emergency declarations related to hurricanes are extended.

The attorney said the Weiss Sirota law firm is organizing a potential multi-city challenge and requested that municipalities indicate interest by contributing $10,000 toward litigation costs. "This is the most damaging planning legislation I've seen in Florida since I began my career," the attorney said, citing risks to local home-rule authority and noting the bill could enable property owners to sue and recover attorneys' fees.

Councilors asked for a memo specific to Jupiter that lists ordinances and plan amendments adopted since Nov. 1, 2024, and a risk analysis for items the town has in process. The attorney agreed to provide a staff memo with a targeted review, and several councilors indicated preliminary support but requested time to read the memo before making a commitment to join litigation.

Ending: Staff will deliver a detailed memo and risk list, and council will consider the litigation-joining decision at a future meeting.