Key West voted to ban large cruise lines (Carnival Cruise Line photo)
03-04-2021 05:09:06
Florida’s bill that would prevent local governments from enacting rules restricting activities in the state’s port took a step forward on Wednesday as lawmakers begin their spring session. Largely in response to Key West’s vote to restrict cruise ship access, the proposed legislation states that the power to restrict trade in ports rests only with the state or federal government, and not with local communities.
As unveiled by Senator Jim Boyd, a Republican who represents the city of Bradenton, Florida on the state’s southwest coast, the legislation would have covered all 15 of the state’s seaports. The proposed legislation prohibits local governments from restricting or regulating trade, the size and type of ships, the source or type of cargo, or the number, origin or nationality of passengers. It would also be retroactive to block the November 2020 referendums that Key West voters approved to limit the size of cruise ships and the number of people who land in their port each day.
Florida’s Tourism, Infrastructure and Energy Subcommittee held hearings this week to review the proposed bill. The objections raised included the far-reaching nature of all ports and the preventive nature of the legislation.
Legislators reached a compromise restricting the bill to lock down local regulations in the community-run ports in Pensacola, Panama City, Key West and St. Petersburg. By restricting the bill, the Florida Association of Counties withdrew its opposition, as did the Republican legislature. The subcommittee voted 12 to 6 to approve the revised measure.
Proponents argued that allowing local authorities to set individual guidelines for their local ports could harm state trade, the flow of goods in and out of state, and the health, safety and wellbeing of the public. Since ports serve as hubs for international trade, local authorities are not empowered to take any action that would affect the flow of trade between states.
“If you don’t pass this bill and allow individual communities to suddenly close their ports to any type, size, or nationality of people they deem appropriate, you will void many contracts,” said bill sponsor Rep. Spencer Roach , a Republican who is Ft. Myers on the west coast of Florida.
In addition to arguing that the bill is a disguised attempt to override Key West voters, the opposition focused on the ability of local authorities to take action to protect their communities. The Port of Pensacola, for example, has highlighted that it is restricting the types of cargo arriving at the port due to the port’s central location in the city and the potential for significant damage if, for example, a flammable cargo is mistreated in the port.
Key West officials continue to work to determine the scope of last November’s referendums. The question was whether it was the three pillars in the harbor or whether it was just the one pier administered by the city. Separately, Key West commissioners voted this week to postpone accepting a government grant for repairs and maintenance of the city-run dock. They cited the problem of accepting state funds for the pier, while also arguing that the state had no authority over restrictions on the use of the pier.
The amended bill will now be presented to the state’s trade committee for another hearing before being voted on by the legislature as a whole.
