An Orange County woman is suing the state over a controversial new law she says threatens the character of her rural neighborhood.
Rachel Hildebrand has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of SB 180, legislation aimed at speeding up the building process for hurricane recovery. Opponents say the law goes too far by limiting local governments’ ability to control development.
Hildebrand’s lawsuit lists five state defendants, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.
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“So I’m standing up and saying, even if it is kind of a David and Goliath situation, I’m showing that there is actually a face to this lawsuit,” she said. “It’s hurting more than just strokes on a paper. My message to the state, just please listen and realize that the way this was done wasn’t right.”
Hildebrand’s case follows a wave of legal challenges from local governments across Florida. More than two dozen cities and counties, including Orange County, Windermere, Deltona and Edgewater have filed lawsuits against the state, arguing that SB-180 undermines their authority.
The lead litigation attorney representing those governments has said that while the law was intended to speed up hurricane recovery, it strips away important local oversight.