Fla. House Passes Environmental Deregulation Bill
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4)- The Florida House has voted to scale back environmental regulations to make it easier for developers and business to get permits for new projects.
The bill (HB 911) zipped through the chamber on a 95-to-16 vote Friday night. It now goes to the Senate where similar legislation (SB 1404) is mired in committee with only a week left in the legislative session.
Environmentalists have decried the bill as a "monster" that would degrade Florida's natural resources.
But it's a top priority for Republican Governor Rick Scott and business interests.
They say the state's environmental regulations are keeping businesses from coming to or expanding in Florida because getting permits is too cumbersome and takes too long compared to other states.
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