Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill Friday aimed at prohibiting local governments from banning single-use plastic straws for five years.
In a letter, DeSantis says that while HB 771 originally addressed issues of contaminated recyclable materials, a moratorium was added in banning local regulations of plastic straws until 2024. The bill also required the state Legislature's research office to conduct a study of "each ordinance or regulation adopted" by municipalities regarding single-use plastic straws.
"A number of Florida municipalities, including Sanibel, Ft. Myers Beach and Miami Beach, have enacted ordinances prohibiting single-use plastic straws," DeSantis writes. "These measures have not, as far as I can tell, frustrated any state policy or harmed the state's interests." DeSantis points out that, in fact, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has "encouraged Florida residents, schools and businesses to reduce plastic straw use."
"Under these circumstances, the State should simply allow local communities to address this issue through the political process," DeSantis says. "Citizens who oppose plastic straw ordinances can seek recourse by electing people who share their views."
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