About FLC’s State Advocacy
The Florida League of Cities represents municipal government interests at the state level with a dedicated team of legislative advocates that help ensure local voices are making local choices in our cities.
Why FLC Advocates
The League was founded to advocate for local decision-making, which gives each city the flexibility to craft its laws specifically to its unique needs. More than 50 years ago, voters added Home Rule powers to the Florida Constitution. These powers state that cities can adopt local laws as long as those laws do not conflict with state or federal law. If a city wants to install a stoplight, add a traffic sign or build a holding pond to prevent flooding, it doesn’t need to ask the state Legislature for permission. We trust our local leaders to enforce laws “at home” and to make necessary changes as a city grows.
Over the past 20 years, there has been a rise in one-size-fits-all bills filed on behalf of special interests aiming to strip local towns and taxpayers of their right to local decision-making. These bills are based on the incorrect idea that every community has the same needs and situations. We know that Florida is a large, complex state – and each community is remarkably different. In other words, what works for a small inland community may not work for a large coastal city, and vice versa. That’s why local decision-making is so important.