Florida Senate Passes Bill Banning Net Zero At The Local Level

By William Teach March 12, 2026 – 7:15 am

I’m not sure how to feel about this: on one hand, let cities be stupid. On the other, States have primacy
Ban on local government ‘net-zero’ policies clears Legislature on final vote
The Florida Senate has voted final approval of an amended tax bill (HB 1217) to ban local governments in Florida from using net-zero policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — the primary driver of climate change.
The vote was 24-12, with Miami Republican Alexis Alexis Calatayud joining all the Democrats in opposing the bill. The House had already approved the bill, which will head to the governor’s desk. If signed into law by DeSantis, it would go into effect on July 1.
Miami-Dade Republican Sen. Bryan Avila amended his tax bill (SB 7046) last week; it originally bundled together dozens of tax and policy changes.
That current language says government entities may not enact, enforce, or require any person or legal entity to enact or enforce any net zero policy by resolution, ordinance, rule, code, or policy. It would ban local governments from expending any funds (including taxes, fees, or assessments) that support, implement, or advance net-zero policies.
Personally, I would amend it to say that the only way to implement any part of a net zero policy is by the citizens of a town voting for it, at least 66%. Particularly since so often this crap is voted in by the city council, often over the objections of the citizens, who then have to work to get those council members out, and it’s still then a crapshoot if they can get rid of the policies.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Crestview, said there is nothing in the legislation to preclude local governments from purchasing buses that don’t use gasoline, or plant trees or reserve green spaces.
“I’m not going to debate climate change. I didn’t get elected to the Florida Senate to argue with a thermometer,” he said.
“This bill is about when you make a decision to do something in business, or in government, or in community, you don’t use just one driving force, regardless of all other consequences and all other variables. This bills says that net-zero policies should not be the one-trick pony in planning what you do in a community.”
Exactly. They simply cannot use Cult dogma to do everything, when there are better options. Anyhow, you can bet DeSantis will sign it.


Florida Senate Passes Bill Banning Net Zero At The Local Level » Pirate's Cove