Erosion of Home Rule in Florida

The concept of Home Rule has been the most precious power available to local governments. It places responsibility close to citizens. When the 1973 Home Rule Powers Act formally revised the Florida constitution, it gave municipalities "...powers to enable them to conduct municipal government, perform municipal functions and render municipal services ..." If you've ever felt that no one in Washington (or Tallahassee) listens, then you should be a strong proponent of Home Rule. It allows local decision makers to make local decisions. You may not always like the decisions that get made locally, but at least you have INPUT to those decisions. And if you don't like the decisions, you can work to replace local elected officials. It's much easier to affect the results of a County Commissioner election, as an example, than a State Senate election - or a US Congressional election.

Home Rule gives citizens the opportunity to live as they wish to live - locally. Theoretically, if you don't like the way things are done in one Florida town, you can move to a different town with different leaders. But when the State takes control, it becomes an immediate one-size-fits-all with no nuance and no option. Every municipality must do it the way the state says.

Such is the case when the Live Local Act was passed in 2023 - it circumvents long standing local control over growth, zoning, and quality of life. Amendments made to the LLA in 2025 and 2026 did not address significant land use problems that continue to impact Florida residents - including those of us in Tatum Ridge, Sarasota. While not the only affront to Home Rule here in Florida, the LLA is arguably the most egregious. Local issues are best resolved locally - that was true back in 1973 and is still true 53 years later.

stayTRU supports all efforts to take local decision making out of the hands of Tallahassee and return it to local elected officials, where it belongs.