Local leaders tell delegation SB 180’s post-storm provisions threaten municipal planning
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Summary
Mayors and League representatives told the Palm Beach County legislative delegation that sections 18 and 28 of SB 180 go beyond post-storm relief and limit local land-use authority, create vague standards and raise litigation risk; the Senate office requested specific line-by-line edits.
Local leaders told the Palm Beach County legislative delegation on Dec. 15 that while many provisions of SB 180 assist post-storm recovery, two parts of the law—identified as sections 18 and 28—create significant problems for municipal planning and resilience work.
Alan Kolbach, mayor of Atlantis and a League board member, said SB 180 "was introduced as a post storm emergency-management measure to ease recovery efforts," but that "sections 18 and 28 go far beyond the objective of easing the burden on local residents" by restricting moratoria and other land-use regulations in a broad geographic band and by imposing vague standards that increase litigation risk.
Kolbach told the delegation the provisions apply prospectively and (as drafted) retroactively to Aug. 1, 2024, and would allow any person to sue a local government for alleged violations with attorney-fee awards to prevailing plaintiffs, creating asymmetric risk for municipalities. He urged clarifying amendments that would limit the rules to jurisdictions with measurable storm damage, define key terms, fix standing and pre-suit notice, and create realistic cure periods compatible with public‑notice requirements.
Senator Gail Harrell said she had discussed the bill with its sponsor, Senator DeSigli, and asked the League to provide a detailed, line-by-line statement of concerns; she said she would make sure the sponsor receives it and indicated the sponsor is "listening." League leaders said they would provide the requested materials.
No formal amendment or vote occurred at the meeting; the delegation asked for specific, line-by-line suggested edits to be delivered to the bill sponsor.