Molly Duerig, environment reporter for Central Florida Public Media, and Abe Aboraya from the Oviedo Community News join Talking Central Florida to discuss the legal and philosophical battle over rural boundaries and other policies designed to limit sprawling development. Plus, a look at Orange County leaders' decision to scrap a proposal for a sales tax initiative to pay for conservation and infrastructure projects, the impending court fight over plans to build a road on conservation land, and the ongoing drought across Florida.

Show notes:

Sen. Jason Brodeur flips, calls for bill amendment that could gut rural boundaries in Seminole, Orange counties (Abe Aboraya, Oviedo Community News): https://oviedocommunitynews.org/2026/02/25/sen-jason-brodeur-flips-calls-for-bill-amendment-that-could-gut-rural-boundaries-in-seminole-orange-counties/

SB 208 (2026) Land Use and Development Regulations: https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/208

Annexation option could help control growth, but Volusia leaders say no thanks (Molly Duerig, Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/environment/2026-03-04/annexation-option-could-help-control-growth-volusia-leaders-say-no

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SB 840 (2026) Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/840

SB 180 (2025) Emergencies: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/180

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'Timing is wrong': Orange County won't have a new sales tax on November's ballot (Molly Duerig, Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/environment/2026-03-03/orange-county-wont-have-new-sales-tax-november-ballot

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Expressway authority files claim to Orange County conservation land (Molly Duerig, Central Florida Public Media): https://www.cfpublic.org/environment/2026-03-09/expressway-authority-files-claim-orange-county-conservation-land

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US Drought Monitor (National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu