Manatee County Votes to Join Lawsuit Challenging SB180, Becomes Second Florida County to Take Action
On Tuesday, Manatee County Commissioners voted 6-1 to authorize the county attorney to execute a contract with Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm building a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Florida Senate Bill 180. Manatee is the second county government in the state to join the case, following Orange County, and joins several municipalities, including Alachua, Delray Beach, Deltona, Edgewater, Stuart, Weston, and Windermere.
The decision followed nearly an hour of public comment, during which more than a dozen residents urged commissioners to move forward with the lawsuit. No speakers opposed the measure.
SB 180, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June, was billed as an emergency management measure to streamline rebuilding efforts after hurricanes. But critics argue that its vague language regarding “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to land development and building regulations has been weaponized to block a wide range of local growth management policies unrelated to hurricane recovery.
For Manatee County, the law has already had sweeping consequences. Commissioners’ attempts to reinstate wetland buffer protections, repeal Policy 2.1.2.8—which had loosened the Future Development Area Boundary designed to prevent sprawl—and raise impact fees have all faced threats of legal action under SB180. Board Chair George Kruse even canceled a scheduled land use meeting in August under pressure from the state, citing potential risks that commissioners could be removed from office.
While most commissioners expressed strong support for joining the lawsuit, Commissioner Mike Rahn stood alone in opposition. Rahn questioned the timing of the move, citing the governor’s recent veto of $4 million in county funding requests and warning that “poking a pretty big bear” could have further financial consequences. He argued the county should wait to review the final filing before committing.
Commissioner Amanda Ballard supported joining the suit but cautioned that litigation could take years and would not bring an immediate resolution. She raised concerns about costs and potential state retaliation but said a judicial interpretation was the only reliable way to clarify the law’s scope.
Commissioners Carol Felts, Bob McCann, Jason Bearden, and Kruse voiced unequivocal support, saying the risks of waiting outweighed the dangers of inaction. Bearden, in particular, criticized local legislators Senator Jim Boyd and Representatives Will Robinson and Bill Connerly for supporting the measure, saying it stripped citizens of their right to local self-governance.
The board approved paying $10,000 to join the case. The law firm representing the coalition is expected to file the lawsuit later this month.
With Manatee County’s decision, the movement to overturn SB180 is gaining momentum as more cities and counties weigh joining the coalition. Local officials say the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how communities across Florida manage growth, protect natural resources, and preserve local autonomy in the years ahead.