A proposed bill in Tallahassee that would reverse the new cruise ship restrictions in Key West was approved by a tourism subcommittee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, clearing the way for the bill to move to the next step.
In a surprise move, the bill was amended to apply to only four of the stateâs 15 seaports â including Key West â putting those four under state, not local, control and letting the others remain status quo. The amended bill now goes to the full House Commerce Committee for a hearing.
The amended language removing the other 11 seaports from state oversight was met with sighs of relief from House legislators representing those districts. The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Spencer Roach, R-79th District, told committee members the amended language was a âsurgicalâ effort to overturn the limits on cruise ships Key West voters approved in November.
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