TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Florida Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would ban all net-zero policies statewide, a sweeping crackdown on local greenhouse gas regulations on the cusp of becoming law.
Details: Senators voted 24-12 to pass the state House’s version of the bill, which would ban all government entities — including state agencies, local governments and school districts — from implementing any policy that supports a net-zero goal. The bill would also ban governments from imposing charges for cap-and-trade programs or on greenhouse gas emissions.
The Senate’s version of the bill floundered during the committee process but was revived in the chamber’s tax package. Democrats argued the net-zero language was too disconnected from tax policy for it to be considered in the package, while some Republicans maintained the bill would protect taxpayer dollars.
“What this bill says is that net-zero policies should not be the one-trick pony in planning what you do in a community,” said state Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Crestview), the vice chair of the Finance and Tax Committee. “Instead, you have to take into account the other variables.”
