A state senator in Florida is currently pushing for a bill that would ban local communities from trying to regulate cruise ports traffic. The move is expected to reverse the recent restrictions on cruise vessels in Key West FL.
The legislation presented by Jim Boyd (Republican State Senator) would ban local governments from imposing restrictions on the types and size of ships entering Florida's 15 major seaports.
As part of the language of the bill, if approved by the House and Senate, and signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the decision by officials in Key West regarding cruise ship restrictions would be reversed.
In November 2020, voters in Key West approved amendments limiting cruise ships to 1300 people as well as banning larger ships operated by top brands like CCL-Carnival Cruise Line and RCI-Royal Caribbean International.
While there are concerns too much power is stripped from local communities, Boyd said the economic impact of a seaport extended far beyond the boundaries of the local jurisdiction in which the port was located, "materially contributing to the economies of multiple cities and counties within the region and to the economy of the state as a whole.”
According to Jim Mooney (State Representative of Florida Keys), his community deserved the right to “govern whether or not cruise ships should be regulated or not.”