Florida Court Rules No Right to Clean Water
A Florida appellate court upheld a state law preventing local governments from granting rights to natural resources, thereby rejecting a Titusville clean water initiative passed by 83% of voters. The court’s decision, mirroring a similar ruling in Orange County, cites a 2020 state law preempting such local ordinances. While acknowledging the initiative’s popular support and laudable goals, the judges ruled they lacked authority to overturn the state legislature’s mandate. This ruling effectively blocks citizen lawsuits to protect Titusville’s waterways.
John Q. Hosedrinker