Two Bills on DeSantis's Desk Threaten Martin County's Hard-Won Growth Controls

Two sweeping pieces of legislation landed on Gov. Ron DeSantis's desk this week that, taken together, could fundamentally alter how Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties manage growth, agriculture, and environmental protection — and local officials have little time to respond.

The first, HB 399, is a statewide land-use overhaul sponsored by Hialeah Republican Rep. David Borrero that would curtail local governments' authority over development decisions. The second, SB 290 — the Florida Farm Bill — touches land use, biosolids regulation, and local government preemption across the agricultural sector. DeSantis has until April 2 to sign, veto, or allow HB 399 to become law without his signature. The Farm Bill timeline follows a similar review window.

For Martin County — which has spent decades defending some of the most stringent growth management policies in Florida and whose residents have repeatedly gone to the mat to protect low-density development and the Indian River Lagoon — the pairing of these two bills represents a direct challenge to local control that officials have long feared from Tallahassee.

HB 399 requires local governments to tie development fees to the actual cost of project review, adopt more objective standards for evaluating project compatibility, and provide written justifications when denying proposals. Critically, it also directs cities and counties to identify conflicts earlier in the review process and suggest remedies rather than reject applications outright — language critics say would effectively force local governments to help developers find workarounds to denial.

The bill passed largely along party lines, though several Republicans broke with leadership to vote against it.

Senate sponsor Sen. Stan McClain argued the measure brings predictability to land-use decisions and protects property rights. But Democratic Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando called it "a sweeping change to Florida's growth management system," and Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez went further, saying the bill "egregiously interferes with our residents' right to public input." Miami Beach's commission voted this week to authorize potential litigation if DeSantis signs it.

How Martin County commissioners and the county's growth management staff plan to respond to HB 399 if signed is unclear.

The Farm Bill, SB 290, sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow of Eustis — a farmer by trade — passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 94-10 in the House and unanimously in the Senate. That breadth of support makes a DeSantis veto unlikely.

Among its most consequential provisions for the Treasure Coast: the bill phases out land application of lower-grade biosolids, eventually limiting such use to Class AA treated material only — the highest standard under Florida's system. That change has direct relevance for Indian River Lagoon watersheds, where biosolids runoff has been a persistent water-quality flashpoint.

The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate state-owned land for agricultural suitability and allows surplus designation with conservation easements attached — a mechanism that could affect how conservation parcels across the Treasure Coast are managed going forward. According to available information,

Notably, the Farm Bill's final version stripped a controversial "ag-gag" expansion that would have broadened civil liability for criticism of agricultural products. Lawmakers removed the language after pushback in committee.

Residents in Martin County who want to weigh in before April 2 can contact the Governor's office at (850) 717-9337 or reach Martin County Commissioner According to available information, through the county's main line at (772) 288-5400. St. Lucie County residents can contact commissioners at (772) 462-1400. Indian River County's Board of County Commissioners can be reached at (772) 226-1490.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.