Help Protect Our Environment - Stop One Of The Worst Bills Of 2017 Legislative Session Now

[South Walton Community Council]

On Tuesdayafternoon, the House Oversight, Transparency and Administration Subcommittee will hear House Bill 977, the "nuclear option" against citizens who challenge development decisions to protect Florida's environment and our quality of life. We need your help to stop this terrible bill from becoming law.

Please contact the members of the House Oversight, Transparency and Administration Subcommittee before 3 p.m. on Tuesday and ask them to OPPOSE House Bill 997:

House Bill 997 - This bill punishes citizens and non-profit organizations for challenging development decisions that impact Florida's environment and quality of life. It stymies public participation in government by forcing Floridians who unsuccessfully challenge development decisions to pay the attorney fees and costs of real estate developers up to $50,000. Shockingly, HB 997 requires citizens to pay developer's legal tabs even if the case is settled under mutually agreed upon terms.

The sole intent of this legislation is to threaten, penalize and muzzle concerned Floridians who look to the courts as the last recourse for opposing bad developments. Florida's growth management laws are already stacked in favor of developers. House Bill 997's "nuclear option" could be the last nail in the coffin for public interest legal challenges in Florida.

Here is a draft statement to help you:
Please stand with your constituents and oppose House Bill 997.

House Bill 997 is un-American. It threatens and penalizes concerned citizens - like me - who try to take a meaningful role in shaping the future of my community and protecting our environment. It deters public participation in government by forcing Floridians who unsuccessfully challenge development decisions to pay the attorney fees and costs of real estate developers up to $50,000, even if the case is settled under mutually agreed upon terms.
House Bill 997 attacks my right to be heard in court and hands developers a hammer to attack regular people who try to protect their neighborhoods and quality of life. Please vote no on House bill 997.

The House Oversight, Transparency and Administration Subcommittee members are:
Rep.
Daisy
Baez
daisy.baez@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5114


Rep.
Neil
Combee
neil.combee@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5039

Rep.
Kimberly
Daniels
kimberly.daniels@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5014

Rep.
Tracie
Davis
tracie.davis@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5013

Rep.
Brad
Drake
brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5005

Rep.
Katie A.
Edwards
katie.edwards@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5098

Rep.
Eric
Eisnaugle
eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5044

Rep.
Patrick
Henry
patrick.henry@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5026

Rep.
Blaise
Ingoglia
blaise.ingoglia@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5035

Rep.
Bobby
Payne
bobby.payne@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5019

Rep.
Cary
Pigman
cary.pigman@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5055

Rep.
Dan
Raulerson
dan.raulerson@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5058

Rep.
Bob
Rommel
bob.rommel@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5106

Rep.
Rick
Roth
rick.roth@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5085

Rep.
Clay
Yarborough
clay.yarborough@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5012

You can email the entire committee by copying the following into you address bar:
daisy.baez@myfloridahouse.gov; neil.combee@myfloridahouse.gov; kimberly.daniels@myfloridahouse.gov;tracie.davis@myfloridahouse.gov; brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov; katie.edwards@myfloridahouse.gov;eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov; patrick.henry@myfloridahouse.gov; blaise.ingoglia@myfloridahouse.gov; bobby.payne@myfloridahouse.gov; cary.pigman@myfloridahouse.gov;dan.raulerson@myfloridahouse.gov; bob.rommel@myfloridahouse.gov; rick.roth@myfloridahouse.gov; clay.yarborough@myfloridahouse.gov

 

[FactorFiction]

If the attacks on our quality of life and our environment continue like this, no one will want to live in Florida. At that point, FL best hope that investors and tourists save the day. Good luck with that.