A new bill is being presented at Florida’s state legislature proposes, aiming to block local governments from restricting the activity at the state’s ports.
The bill would regard all of Florida’s 15 seaports, while its provisions would overturn the residents of Key West’s efforts to block cruise ships from their town.
More specifically, the proposed legislation seeks to ban local governments from restricting or regulating commerce, the size, and types of ships the source or type of cargo, or the number, origin, or nationality of passengers.
The bill claims that permitting local authorities to set individual policies for their local ports could negatively affect the state’s commerce, the flow of goods in and out of the state, and the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
If the bill became law, it would cancel previous local regulations that are covered by the restrictions in the bill. Organizations in Florida have targeted preemptive bills seeking to eliminate the practice of making rules retroactive.
Finally, if this bill is passed it would nullify the vote in Key West in November that directed the town manager to block cruise ships from the city’s docks.
