No. CS/SB 1628
Filed under Local Government.
Net-zero Policies by Governmental Entities; Prohibiting governmental entities from adopting or requiring the adoption of net-zero policies; prohibiting governmental entities from expending government funds to support, implement, or advance net-zero policies; prohibiting governmental entities from imposing taxes, fees, penalties, charges, offsets, or assessments to advance net-zero policies; prohibiting governmental entities from implementing, administering, or enforcing a program that functions as a cap-and-trade program or has such effect, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDEvery governmental entity in Florida, from the state down to counties, cities, and even homeowners' associations, is barred from adopting a net-zero emissions policy or requiring anyone else to adopt one.
Governments cannot spend public money to support a net-zero policy, including paying membership dues to outside associations that have adopted one, or giving purchasing preference to vehicles based only on fuel source.
No governmental entity may impose a tax, fee, or assessment meant to advance a net-zero policy, or run any program that caps emissions or trades emissions allowances like a cap-and-trade system.
Starting in 2027, every governmental entity must have an official swear annually, under penalty of perjury, that it is complying, and counties and cities can no longer use zoning, taxing, or home-rule powers to work around the ban.
AINo governmental entity may adopt a net-zero policy, including setting its own target to reduce its net emissions to zero, or require anyone else to adopt one. The ban reaches comprehensive plans, land development regulations, transportation plans, and any other government policy or procedure.
AIA governmental entity cannot spend public money to advance a net-zero policy. That includes giving purchasing preferences to non-carbon-intensive products or vehicles chosen solely for fuel source, and paying dues to a trade association or league of governments that has adopted or supports a net-zero policy.
AILocal and state governments cannot levy any tax, fee, penalty, charge, offset, or assessment meant to advance a net-zero policy, including one based on a fuel's carbon content or on greenhouse-gas emissions from making or using a good or service.
AIA governmental entity cannot run or enforce a program that caps regional greenhouse-gas emissions, auctions or transfers emissions allowances, or requires anyone in the state to take part in a carbon emissions trading program.
AIThe definition of "governmental entity" bound by this whole section covers far more than traditional government: it names community development districts, improvement districts, and homeowners' associations alongside the state, counties, and municipalities.
AICounty comprehensive plans, zoning and business regulations, and county and municipal taxing power must all now comply with the new prohibitions, and a municipality's broad "municipal purpose" power no longer covers anything on the prohibited list.
AIStarting January 1, 2027, every governmental entity must have an authorized official sign, under penalty of perjury, an annual affidavit to the Department of Environmental Protection attesting that it complies with this ban.