TALLAHASSEE — 1000 Friends of Florida is urging the 2026 Legislature to repeal damaging provisions of Senate Bill 180, called the Emergencies Bill, passed during the 2025 session.

“This legislative overreach ties the hands of communities striving to address urgent environmental, growth management, and disaster resiliency challenges,” said 1000 Friends of Florida President Paul Owens. “By undermining local authority, SB 180 puts Floridians at greater risk from flooding, pollution, and unchecked sprawl. We urge lawmakers to act swiftly to repeal these harmful provisions in 2026."

One of the most dangerous sections, Section 28, bars cities and counties from adopting new land-use or development regulations deemed more “restrictive or burdensome” than what was in place before recent hurricanes – even if unrelated to storm recovery. The prohibition applies retroactively to August 1, 2024 , through October 1, 2027, threatening already-adopted policies with legal challenges. Section 18 freezes stronger local planning for one year after any future storm within 100 miles -stopping communities from enacting stormwater, floodplain, or resilience protections when they are needed most.

SB 180 just went into effect on July 1 of this year, but its harmful impacts are already evident:

• Orange County’s Vision 2050 – a comprehensive plan update shaped by years of public input- was just rejected under SB 180 by the Florida Department of Commerce, sidelining the will of local residents.

• The City of Deltona approved a nine-month moratorium on new residential development due to flooding concerns and infrastructure issues related to hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Milton. A developer has threatened a legal challenge citing SB 180.

• The City of New Smyrna Beach is evaluating whether SB 180 could nullify the city’s recently adopted stormwater regulations.

Local governments across Florida are now reevaluating recent and proposed policies, leading to a chilling effect on responsible planning and governing in the best interest of residents.

1000 Friends of Florida urges lawmakers to restore local governments’ ability to adopt stronger standards. Without changes, SB 180 will weaken Florida’s resilience, undermine local planning efforts, and threaten health, safety, and quality of life of our residents.

1000 Friends commissioned a legal analysis by leading land-use attorney Richard Grosso which underscores the dangerous provisions and legislative overreach contained in the bill. Read the overview here or the detailed analysis at: https://1000fof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SB-180-analysis-summary.pdf.

About 1000 Friends of Florida
Founded in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to saving special places, building better communities, and advocating for sustainable growth.