TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A controversial plan that had nature lovers of each events up in arms has returned to the Sunshine State with new laws.
It began with a leaked proposal to construct golf programs and pickleball courts inside some state parks earlier this yr. Now, some legislators need to cross a regulation to forestall it from ever taking place.
After the protests and fast statewide response, Republican State Senator Gayle Harrell is now carrying the trigger ahead for legislators on either side of the aisle with a invoice to guard state parks deliberate for the following session.
Senator Harrell shared that she was approached the yr earlier than about sponsoring a invoice that may have allowed golf programs in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, however felt it wasn’t an applicable use of state parks.
“Once I heard that this initiative was being proposed — and never only for Jonathan Dickinson, however for different parks — that’s once I stated, ‘ when session begins, that is the primary invoice I’m going to file’,” Harrell stated.
Senate Invoice 80 goals to ban sure sporting facilities in state parks. This comes after a whistle blower leaked plans to construct golf programs, resorts, and pickleball courts on pure grounds.
At first, all eyes turned towards Governor Ron DeSantis.
“This was one thing that was leaked, it wasn’t authorized by me,” DeSantis stated. “I by no means noticed that.”
New reporting by the Tampa Bay Times means that President-elect Donald Trump could have performed an element by inspiring the thought when talking with a golf course designer visiting Mar-a-Lago. The Trump marketing campaign has but to reply to the instances’ request for remark.
St. Pete Faculty Political Analyst Tara Newsom wonders if Trump’s help might have impressed some state staffers or legislators to pursue the park growth concept.
Newsom added that when Governor DeSantis ran on his first marketing campaign, he championed the atmosphere. So when the information broke on proposed adjustments to state parks, many had been bowled over.
“There was a invoice that was launched, and the Governor did not appear to know very a lot about it. It did not observe his sturdy observe document on defending the atmosphere,” Newsom stated. “After which unexpectedly, it is riff. We discover out that President-elect Donald Trump might need had his thumb within the state legislature all the best way again to final yr.”
Information Channel 8 requested Home Speaker Daniel Perez about Senator Harrell’s invoice to forestall growth inside state parks. Perez informed us he would not remark till an analogous invoice is proposed within the Home however steered that invoice is coming.
“There are members which have introduced this to my consideration in the home of representatives,” Perez stated. “And in the event that they select to file laws with regard to this difficulty, we’ll put it in committee course of, like another invoice, and let it transfer by way of the method and see the place it finally ends up.”
Senator Harrell shared with Information Channel 8 that she gathered help from her colleagues throughout committee week this week and is now on the lookout for co-sponsors — each Democrats and Republicans — to assist get it throughout the end line.
“That is our treasure,” Harrell stated. “Our state parks are there to protect and shield the pure atmosphere, habitat and historic websites for the long run, for our residents, for our guests, and particularly for our children and grandkids. That is about defending for the long run.”
Harrell expects State Consultant John Snyder to file a companion invoice, however the invoice has not been filed simply but.
