Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills that could cause headaches for the city of Tallahassee and Leon County.
On Wednesday, the governor signed into law a measure that will strike down diversity, equity and inclusion programs in counties and municipalities, another step in state GOP leaders’ efforts to eliminate all DEI initiatives statewide.
He also signed a bill to prevent local governments from adopting certain net-zero policies, meaning clean energy plans could become forbidden.
DeSantis authorized the new laws (SB 1134, HB 1217) April 22 at a ceremony in Jacksonville. The anti-DEI bill is not effective till Jan. 1, 2027.
DeSantis encouraged lawmakers to pass it into law during his final State of the State speech. But city and county officials have been upset that the measure may disallow local governments from sponsoring or supporting ethnic heritage events or LGBTQ+ parades.
New law may mean end to Leon County diversity office
More to the point, the new law puts city and county commissioners who support diversity initiatives in the crosshairs. And it could be a kill shot to local initiatives, such as the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality’s Minority, Women & Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Division.
The division – overseen by Deputy Director Darryl Jones, who also serves as an elected Leon County school board member – supports minority and women business owners by helping them obtain certification and connecting them to contracting opportunities with local government.
Tallahassee City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox drummed up awareness, saying the bill could have major potential economic impacts, particularly to vendors who do business with the city.
She said some 150 minority-owned businesses would be threatened after having gained $35 million in contracts over the past three years.
She has also questioned if she’d face removal from office if she, for example, supported an Asian American festival in Tallahassee. Williams-Cox said she’d be responsible for legal fees even if she prevailed.
Under the legislation, counties and cities can’t adopt, promote or fund programs or policies involving DEI, which is defined as enforcing workplace practices that provide special privileges based on race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
It also allows residents to sue their city or county if they think the government is violating the law. If local officials acting in their official capacity violate the law, the governor could suspend them from office.
Democrats staunchly opposed the measure, citing the First Amendment. Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, said the measure was “designed to have a chilling effect” and hit programs that were meant to help Black families and communities.
Is this also end of Tallahassee’s 100% clean energy plan?
When it goes into effect July 1, HB 1217 would prohibit local governments from adopting certain net-zero policies and using public funds to further such policies. The law would also require local governments to annually send a signed affidavit confirming their compliance.
In 2019, Tallahassee city commissioners approved a resolution to run its buildings, fleet vehicles and public buses off electric energy. The city’s goal is to switch the entire community to 100% renewable energy by 2050 while aiming to produce as much, if not more, clean energy as is being used.
Any unavoidable use of non-renewable energy would be balanced by the export of clean energy, as previously reported.
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy derived from natural sources that are replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind and moving water. Tallahassee is one of 10 Florida cities to set this goal, according to the city’s informational webpage about its clean energy plan.
A request for comment is pending with a city spokeswoman.
What Leon County has done to pursue clean energy
In 2018, Leon County, “furthered its commitment to clean energy and sustainability” by signing the Mayors For 100% Clean Energyendorsement, according to a county press release at the time.
Previously only available to cities, Leon County was the first county in the nation to sign on to the initiative, which declared support for transitioning to 100% renewable energy in the community and pledged the county to work with community partners and citizens to realize the goal.
Then in 2023, in a 6 to 1 vote, Leon County commissioners endorsed a declaration stating the capital county is in “a climate emergency” and will continue to work with the advocacy groups to advocate for climate action and policy. The approved resolution called on the county to reduce greenhouse gases, improve water quality, support the importance of native plants and the local food movement.
Jim Rosica contributed. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis signs new Florida laws targeting DEI, clean energy plans
Reporting by Stephany Matat and Jim Rosica, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
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