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Commission hears legislative priorities warning as SB 180, Live Local changes loom
Summary
City staff and counsel told commissioners to watch state bills that could curtail local land‑use authority, highlighting SB 180 and Live Local Act amendments; staff asked commissioners to meet with the city lobbyist and rank priorities at the Sept. 16 meeting.
Grants administrator Lorelei Jacobs briefed the Fernandina Beach City Commission on potential issues for the 2026–27 Florida legislative session and urged commissioners to refine priorities with the city lobbyist.
Jacobs listed bills carried over from last year that may reappear, including Senate Bill 180 — which staff and counsel described as broadly limiting local governments’ land‑use authority — Senate Bill 1080 on impact‑fee restrictions and legislation affecting platting procedures that move approvals to administrative review. Jacobs said the League of Cities has been consulted and commissioners will be asked on Sept. 16 to rank priorities for advocacy in Tallahassee.
"Senate Bill 180 affects the entirety of Florida," Jacobs said, and staff flagged that some jurisdictions already had comprehensive plan amendments found void under the statute. City Attorney Prince warned that the bill’s retroactive language (to 2024) could affect previously adopted plan amendments and recommended pursuing targeted fixes or narrower limits on who can sue under the statute.
Jacobs also briefed the commission on changes to the Live Local Act that expand where affordable housing projects can be approved, remove some local parking requirements, and allow civil actions against local governments for noncompliance; she described several items the city intends to track as either "priority," "support," or "monitor" issues.
The commission was asked to meet with city lobbyist Buddy Jacobs to refine the list before commissioners vote on formal legislative priorities at the Sept. 16 meeting.
Context: Commissioners and staff described these matters as part of an ongoing effort to safeguard home‑rule authority and local revenue tools such as impact fees and municipal utility funds. Staff will prepare recommended priorities and proposed ordinance amendments where necessary.
