Will new bill let Manatee County slow down development? Here are 5 takeaways

In 2026, Florida lawmakers are considering revising Senate Bill 180, a law that has limited local control over development and growth.

Originally intended to aid hurricane recovery, the bill has faced criticism for enabling unchecked development.

FULL STORY: Florida bill could restore local control over development. Does it go far enough?

Here’s what to know:

• Senate Bill 180 was designed to simplify rebuilding after hurricanes by preventing local governments from enacting new zoning restrictions. However, its broad language has allowed developers to challenge nearly any local rule change.
• State Sen. Nick DiCeglie has introduced SB 840 to address issues with SB 180, aiming to clarify the law and reduce its impact on local governance. The new bill proposes limiting restrictions to properties affected by future hurricanes and removing some developer privileges.
• Local officials and home rule advocates are cautiously optimistic about SB 840, though some believe it doesn’t fully restore local planning authority and want lawmakers to refine it during the 2026 legislative session.
• Developers have expressed dissatisfaction with being targeted by local regulations, arguing that infrastructure issues stem from poor local planning decisions. Meanwhile, an ongoing lawsuit challenges SB 180, pitting local officials and home rule advocates against developers and state officials.
• Additional legislative proposals, such as the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill, could further shift planning power from local governments to state authorities and developers, raising concerns about environmental impacts and unchecked urban sprawl.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Bradenton Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Bradenton Herald journalists.