Senate committee advances broad economic-development bill after heated debate over regional planning councils

CS for CS Senate Bill 1264, an omnibus economic-development package, was reported favorably out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development after the sponsor accepted an amendment and the committee voted 12–2 to advance the measure.

Senator Lauren Collins, the bill sponsor, told the committee, "SB 1264 strengthens Florida's economy, enhances public safety, and ensures that our state remains a leader in business, innovation, and security." She outlined the bill’s components as including changes to law-enforcement recruitment bonuses, the RISE venture capital tax credit, an extension of a data-center tax exemption, provisions on military land transfers, and exemptions from the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act for certain projects.

The most contested provision in the bill would remove language in statute referencing regional planning councils (RPCs). Collins said the change responds to feedback that some appointed officials "struggle to find the actual value" of RPC appointments and argued the state can rely on local leadership and MOUs rather than statutory RPC structure.

Regional planning councils and local officials mounted repeated objections during the committee hearing. Chris Doolin of the Small County Coalition said the bill contains "a lot of good stuff" but voiced concern about "the repeal of the RPC of statutes," urging the sponsor to retain or revise the RPC provisions. Kristen Dozier of the Florida Regional Councils Association testified, "If planning councils were removed from statute, it would disrupt critical programs that fill gaps in services throughout the state." Daryl Register, executive director of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce and treasurer of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, described services RPCs provide to rural counties and warned that removing statutory recognition would "leave gaps in critical services" and increase costs for small communities.

Chad Leonard of 1000 Friends of Florida opposed the bill as written, saying it "dismantles key functions of Florida's regional planning councils, weakening regional coordination on land use, infrastructure, and environmental protection." Senator Sharif and Senator Smith recorded the only committee No votes on the final roll call.

Sponsor Collins said she is open to compromise language and emphasized other bill elements, saying the package will "do incredible things for our community." The committee adopted amendment barcode 435260 (the sponsor said the amendment "repeals sections 28, 209 of the bill to ensure consistency with SB 180") and then voted to report the bill favorably.

The committee recorded the roll call for CS for CS SB 1264 as follows: Arrington Yes; Avila Yes; Bernard Yes; Collins Yes; Grohl (as listed) Yes; Angolia Yes; Martin Yes; McLean Yes; Sharif No; Smith No; Truenow Yes; Wright Yes; Vice Chair Polsky Yes; Chair Desigli (as listed) Yes. Outcome: reported favorably (Yes 12, No 2).

Next steps: Collins told the committee she will work with stakeholders to refine language before the bill’s next stop.