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State Rep. Leonard Spitz updates Ocoee commission on session, warns against preemption
Summary
State Rep. Leonard Spitz told the Ocoee City Commission the recently extended legislative session included intense debates over local control and outlined several bills affecting the city while seeking local infrastructure funding.
State Representative Leonard Spitz (House District 45) told the Ocoee City Commission on May 5 that the 60-day legislative session extended into overtime as lawmakers remained locked in budget negotiations and fights over local control.
Spitz said the session featured “significant discussions” about state preemption of municipal decision‑making and singled out House Bill 1001 as a major example, describing it as a measure that “prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking any official action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion” and that could expose local officials to removal for violations.
Why it matters: Spitz characterized HB 1001 as an erosion of home rule that would strip cities of authority on matters they traditionally manage. He emphasized his opposition and said he would continue to fight to keep decisions about growth and standards at the local level.
Spitz also highlighted bills he and colleagues advanced that he said protect residents and promote innovation: he cited passage of HB 365 to mandate autism‑spectrum interaction training for law‑enforcement officers; HB 243 to regulate e‑bikes and collect crash data; HB 1093 to support vertiport infrastructure for advanced air mobility; and a PFAS phase‑out in firefighting foam in legislation he referred to as the Joe Cassello Act.
Spitz outlined local funding priorities he said his office is pursuing as negotiations continue in Tallahassee, including $1.5 million for the South Lake Apopka water and wastewater extension, roughly $784,000 for a Windermere roundabout at 6th Avenue and Main Street, about $678,000 for an intersection improvement at Windermere Chase Road and Main Street, $170,000 for the Desiree Foundation’s anti‑food‑desert work, and $150,000 for youth programs.
During a short exchange with a commissioner about the Live Local housing‑incentive legislation, Spitz said he is ‘‘pushing back on preemption’’ while seeking to balance the state’s goals on affordable housing with local communities’ zoning preferences and welcomed continued local dialogue about the tradeoffs.
The representative closed by saying he would remain in Tallahassee to press for the district’s needs as the budget process continued.
