Navigation Six cities settle suit against the state over inability to defund the police
A new law that creates a 5% threshold for municipal budget reductions before an appeal can be lodged helped to settle a lawsuit against the state that was filed by six Florida cities two years ago.
HB 1595, which was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 25, 2023, removes appeals from his control unless the 5% threshold is met, and establishes standards for an independent administrative law judge to determine and apply.
“This is an important victory for local movement-building in Florida,” said Public Rights Project Chief Program Officer Jonathan Miller who represented the plaintiffs. “As this case demonstrates, when cities stand up against abuses of power and fight to protect the rights of their residents, they can win.”
