State Preemption and Local Governance

Leon County commissioners narrowed a historical harms study aimed at examining past policies as Florida moves to further restrict diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The decision limits the scope of a county effort to document how past public actions affected neighborhoods and communities. It comes against the backdrop of proposed state law SB 1134, which would bar counties and cities from funding or promoting DEI programs or adopting race- or sex-preferential ordinances.