Save Rural Seminole

08/24/2026

Senate Bill 180 Strikes Again

Another insightful post by excellent investigative journalist Jason Garcia. The consequences of who we sent to Tallahassee are here. The senators, house reps, and governor we sent to Tallahassee have paid back their donors by preempting our local growth controls. Even if our local county commissioners want to protect us, Tallahassee won’t let them.

This November, will we send the same bought and paid for crew back? The choice is ours.

Link to story in comments.

Save Orange County
Black Hammock Association
The Village of Geneva, FL
Defending Rural Florida

08/23/2026

🌱 The Future of Land Conservation in Seminole County is in Our Hands 🌿

Join Cuplet Fern Florida Native Plant Society for an incredibly timely and vital Program & Potluck evening featuring David Bear, President of Save Rural Seminole and newly appointed member of the Seminole Forever Acquisition and Restoration Committee!

Save Rural Seminole has been a powerhouse for our local ecosystems- spearheading the historic 2024 county charter amendments that secured supermajority protection for our Rural Area and Natural Lands. Now, as the Seminole Forever program develops its crucial 5-year land acquisition plan, David will share the vision for protecting our county's most sensitive lands, managing development pressures, and how YOU can actively participate. ✨

📅 Date: Monday, August 24th
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (6:30 PM Potluck / 7:20 PM Presentation)
📍 Location: Seminole County Extension (IFAS) Auditorium, 250 West County Home Road, Sanford
🍽️ Format: Potluck & Presentation (Bring a dish to share!)

Let’s gather, share good food, and learn how we can work together to advocate for our regional ecosystems and native plant ecotypes. 🤝💚 Native plants will be available for donations to the Seminole County Youth Eco-Camp that benefits outdoor environmental learning for kids ages 7-12.

Bring a friend, your Eco-Camp donation, and your passion for Florida's environment!

08/22/2026

This is the consequence of the legislators and governor we voted for passing laws which preempt our local land use regulations.

In this case, in 2025 our state legislature passed and our governor signed SB 108. The blame is 100% on the state legislators and governor for putting that into law and for this consequence.

And if we continue to vote for legislators and a governor who will do the same, WE will be to blame as well.

Can we brainstorm which legislator candidates and which governor candidate would pass more of these land use preemption laws?

Save Orange County
The Village of Geneva, FL
Black Hammock Association
Defending Rural Florida

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DCrH8B8Qy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/21/2026

📢 Lake Pickett North/Sustanee WITHDREW from Tuesday’s Aug. 25th BCC hearing.

Maybe they noticed the welcoming committee: Save Rural Seminole Sunrise Movement Orlando Defending Rural Florida Sarah Strohminger 1000 Friends of Florida For Florida's Sake Sierra Club Florida Christmas Civic, numerous residents from Orlando/Bithlo/Christmas/Wedgefield/Seminole County/Oviedo, and many other groups.

And the 500+ of people who said NOT on our watch. 100% community standing together 🧡

But don’t rest. They’ll be back‼️ We will keep you updated, so stay alert.

❌ This was urban sprawl when the community defeated it before. It’s urban sprawl now (just with a Tallahassee developer handout).

If you haven’t already, sign and share our petition, every signature helps for when they come back ➡️ saveorangecounty.org/petitions/ or use the link@in our bio.

08/20/2026

The Price of Sprawl. Great videos and other resources.

The Price of Sprawl

Learn More: www.priceofsprawlfl.com

08/18/2026

Vote Today!

Representative Democracy requires something from you, voting! Don’t like the bums in office, throw them out! Like what’s happening, keep ‘em in.

Today is the primary day for governor, senate, and house races. But it’s the FINAL day for School Board and Judges.

Do you part and vote today!

08/17/2026

What is this about?

Consequences for sending legislators and a governor to Tallahassee who have systematically eliminated the reasonable growth controls we used to have in the State of Florida.

This is the implementation of a law that was passed neutering our local government’s ability to say no to sprawl. Under these new laws, under certain circumstances even when local commissioners want to protect us from sprawling concrete jungles, Tallahassee has tried to give them no option but to rubber stamp.

In this instance there may be a technicality that we can win on. But technicalities is no way to save this state from developers trying to pave over our rural lands. We need better people in Tallahassee, MUCH better.

Make your vote count!

Save Orange County
The Village of Geneva, FL
Black Hammock Association
Defending Rural Florida

08/05/2026

Jason Garcia does wonderful investigative journalism and has a great piece out about the horrible “rural enclave” legislation that our state elected Senators and Representatives have saddled us with.

The law makes it so county and city commissions are powerless to protect us from certain development. Instead, the state has said these developers get a rubber stamp. Coincidentally, those are the same developers who fund the Senators and Representatives’ campaigns and give them jobs once they leave office.

Keep voting the same people into Tallahassee and we’ll keep getting these same developer bought and paid for results.

Link to story in comments.

Save Orange County
Black Hammock Association
The Village of Geneva, FL
Defending Rural Florida

08/01/2026

As stated in today's Orlando Sentinel story on our local state senate race, whoever wins the Democratic primary represents our only hope to have a state senator who isn't actively trying to destroy our Rural Boundary.

Last session our current Senator, Jason Brodeur, was the chief proponent of a floor amendment which would have been the end of the Rural Boundary and (coincidentally, we're sure) a huge handout to his former roommate and long-time friend Chris Dorworth. He literally gave a 15-minute speech on the floor of the Senate trying to make this last minute change without any committee review or public comment. It's jaw dropping to watch.

From the Sentinel's story:
"The area, however, came under attack at this year’s Legislative session, when Brodeur backed an amendment to a bill filed by a South Florida Republican that would effectively tear down those development restrictions and undercut local governments’ control of rural areas. The amendment would have compensated landowners with tax dollars if their efforts to build at a greater density in the protected area were turned down.

The amendment was not approved by the state Senate, but it’s likely to come back next year — which is one of the reasons Lowndes and Duncan both decided to run for the state Senate seat."

Link to full story in comments.

Save Orange County
Black Hammock Association
The Village of Geneva, FL

07/24/2026

Wonderful article in the Oviedo Community News regarding the great steps by the Oviedo Commission to protect our Rural Boundary. Thank you Mayor Megan Sladek, Commissioner Alan Ott, and Commissioner Natalie Teuchert - Oviedo City Council for championing this reform!

Link to article in comments.

Black Hammock Association
Save Orange County
The Village of Geneva, FL