State lawmakers back off plans to weaken urban development boundaries
By WLRN News Staff
March 17, 2026 at 4:21 PM EDT
A bill that could have weakened urban development boundaries, like the one in Miami-Dade County, didn’t make it through the Florida legislative session that ended Friday.
In the final hours, lawmakers removed a section in a larger land-use bill. It would have lowered the commission vote needed to move boundaries in Miami-Dade, Orange and Seminole counties to make way for development.
Another section requiring a study on the effectiveness of such rural boundaries was also removed.
For much of the session, the measures drew fierce opposition from local government officials and environmental groups. Miami-Dade’s boundary was created about half a century ago to protect wetlands and farms from development.
READ MORE: Coalition of South Florida leaders calls for veto of pro-development bill
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.
In the final hours, lawmakers removed a section in a larger land-use bill. It would have lowered the commission vote needed to move boundaries in Miami-Dade, Orange and Seminole counties to make way for development.
Another section requiring a study on the effectiveness of such rural boundaries was also removed.
For much of the session, the measures drew fierce opposition from local government officials and environmental groups. Miami-Dade’s boundary was created about half a century ago to protect wetlands and farms from development.
READ MORE: Coalition of South Florida leaders calls for veto of pro-development bill
This is a News In Brief report. Visit WLRN News for in-depth reporting from South Florida and Florida news.