2024 Legislative Wrap-up

ReThink Energy Florida has been busy along with many of our coalition partners in engaging constituents in the legislative process, through Reclaiming Florida’s Future and our own advocacy program.

At Reclaiming Florida’s Future, we addressed three sets of bills.

• We opposed the “Renewable” Natural Gas bills (SB 480 /HB 683). These bills would encourage the construction of new methane gas pipelines and processing plants by providing cost recovery for utilities that build methane gas infrastructure using even a very small amount of “renewable natural gas” added to fracked gas. Though the Senate version of the bill passed, in part due to RFF’s work the House version thankfully died in committee and this dangerous policy will not be implemented yet.
• We supported the Mangrove Replanting and Restoration bills (HB 1581 / SB 32) that enjoyed strong bipartisan support and passed unanimously through all House Committees and the full House floor, as well as their first two Senate committee stops. Rules Committee Chair Mayfield did not schedule it and it died in her committee. We are encouraged by the strong performance of these bills, and hopeful that they will be brought back next year.
• Unfortunately, the Heat Illness Protection bills (HB 945 / SB 762) not only did not even get heard in committee, but the legislature actually passed heat illness protection preemption in Employment Regulations bills (HB 433 / SB 1492.) This is extremely disappointing, and we are hoping the Governor vetoes this measure.

In addition to our Reclaiming Florida’s Future participation, we also advocated in opposition to the following bills:

• Energy Resources (HB 1645 / SB 1624) These “Energy Omnibus” bills passed mostly on party lines. If the Governor does not veto these bills, Floridians are at risk for higher power bills while the legislature de-emphasizes climate change. Offshore wind energy will be prohibited and pipelines will be encouraged. We will be recommending that the Governor veto this bad legislation.
• Electric Vehicle Charger Preemption in the “Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services” bills (HB 1071/ SB 1084.) These bills preempt the regulation of electric vehicle charging stations to the state and prohibit local governmental entities from enacting or enforcing such regulations. This portion of the larger Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill will prevent the local governments that understand their constituents’ needs the most from enacting good policies, posing challenges to federal grant opportunities for these same local governments.
• ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Preemption in the Department of Transportation bill (HB 1301) would have caused legal compliance issues for local and regional transportation planners who are required to adhere to federal laws and regulations and hindered Florida’s ability to compete for millions in federal transportation funding. This language was amended out of the final bill.