Florida
The Florida Legislature wants to expand the control over regulating plastics – Florida Phoenix
More than 15 years ago, state lawmakers passed legislation to further control local governments from banning single-use plastics in Florida.
Now, members of the GOP-controlled Legislature and the Florida business establishment want to go further in removing municipalities and counties from regulating the use of so-called “auxiliary containers,” which would go beyond single-use or renewable plastics to include bags, cups, bottles or other packaging made of cloth, paper, plastic, cardboard, molded fiber, corrugated material, aluminum and glass.
The proposal (SB 1126) is sponsored by Fort Myers-based Republican Jonathan Martin, who introduced the measure before the Senate and Commerce Tourism Committee on Tuesday.
Plastic pollution has been linked to a variety of negative issues, including infertility and cancer in humans to severe injury and death in wildlife, according to a report from the National Defense Resources Council.
As of this month, 13 states now ban the use of plastic carryout bags statewide, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association. That same organization says that Florida is among 19 states that have placed limitations on regulating plastic carryout bags, either in state statute or in their constitution based on July 2023 data.
Environmentalists came before the committee on Tuesday to strongly oppose the bill, and asked if the state is ever going to do anything to address the concerns around plastics.
“Plastics have been linked to cancer, lung and liver damage to humans, yet the bill preempts not only local governments but also the state from doing anything about it,” said David Cullen with the Florida Sierra Club. “Trash affects all of our communities. It affects our state. It affects our marine environment on which much of our economy is based, and yet the bill says ‘do nothing.’ That can’t be the answer for Florida. Do nothing. That’s what the bill says.”
Holly Parker Curry with the Surfrider Foundation agreed with Cullen that the bill does nothing to regulate the use of such plastics.
“If there’s no appetite to take action on these single-use plastics statewide then return that power to local governments so that they can do it,” she told the committee.
In 2008, the Legislature directed the state’s Department of Environmental Protect to produce a report a “Retail Bags Report” regarding the need and efficacy of both statewide and local regulation of bags used by consumers from retail establishments. In January of 2022, the DEP produced an updated edition of that 2010 report.
That 2022 report showed that “a substantial majority of respondents support the need for regulation (as opposed to the voluntary efforts supported by “many people and retailers” described in the 2010 report) with the understanding that survey respondents may have a high interest in SUCP (single use carryout packaging) reuse, recycling, and reduction strategies.”
Under the bill sponsored by Sen. Martin, further studies would no longer be required by the DEP.
“We’re going to take away any opportunity that you could have to be able to lean in on reuse or improved recycling or better recovery of these materials that we’re using in these ‘auxiliary containers’ so it’s just going to make it more difficult for Floridians to move away from plastic and to really reduce waste that we were swimming in statewide,” says Emma Haydocy, the Florida policy manager with the Surfrider Foundation, told the Phoenix last week.
Martin emphasized that the bill does not legalize littering, and he said he’d be “happy” to work with the environmental organizations that spoke out against the bill to strengthen the current laws against littering and “perhaps even entering some mandatory minimum requirements for community service” of those found guilty of littering.
The measure was approved by the committee, 4-0.
One of those voting in support was Miami-Dade County Republican Ana Maria Rodriguez. She has introduced a proposal in this year’s session (SB 698) that would actually require the DEP to submit an updated retail bag report with conclusions and recommendations to provide the Legislature as well allow coastal communities to establish pilot programs to regulate single-use plastic products.
The House equivalent of Martin’s bill (HB 1641) is being sponsored by Pasco County Republican Brad Yeager.
TAMPA, Fla – New SNAP restrictions will start Monday in Florida.
What we know:
These changes will ban the purchase of many sugary sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts.
Hunger Free America, an advocacy group, is against these restrictions.
Joel Berg, the CEO, said some regulation is a good thing, but he wants to see it support access to healthy foods as a choice.
“We do support mandates to mandate that healthier food is available in stores that do accept SNAP,” Berg said. “So, it makes a lot more sense to make it easier to get healthier food.”
Berg said these restrictions are unnecessary in achieving a healthier America.
“We should make America healthier again by making healthy food more affordable, convenient and physically available,” Berg said. “We shouldn’t micromanage the eating patterns of adults to try to achieve that goal.”
The other side:
This is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.”
What they’re saying:
Berg said that these changes, on top of cuts to the program nationwide, will increase hunger.
“It’s not that low-income Americans don’t want healthier food; it’s that they can’t afford healthier food,” Berg said.
This coincides with the announcement that there will be cuts to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which supplies food to mothers and young children.
“President Trump’s budget just announced that he’s proposing taking away fruits and vegetables from the WIC program for pregnant women and children under five,” Berg said. “So, they’re taking away healthier food.”
The WIC cuts would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from 5.4 million people.
Big picture view:
The SNAP changes come as part of the MAHA movement and include more than 20 other states that will implement changes over the next two years.
The Source: Information in this story comes from WIC, SNAP and interviews done by Fox 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.
“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.
What to expect
- 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
- 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
- 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
- Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.
For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.
Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.
Other Friday highlights included:
- 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
- 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
- 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.
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