HomeMy WebLinkAboutGovernor's Exec Order 21-101STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 21-101
(Invalidating All Remaining Local Emergency Orders Based on the COVID-19 Emergency)
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52, subsequently extended,
declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida led the national effort to distribute COVID-19 vaccines
to seniors first and has now provided vaccines to nearly 9 million people; and
WHEREAS, every Floridian who desired a vaccine is eligible to obtain one, and Florida
now maintains a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible Floridian who desires
a vaccine to be vaccinated; and
WHEREAS, scientific studies show that vaccines protect individuals from COVID-19 and
reduce hospitalizations and deaths caused by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on April 29, 2021, Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees issued a Public Health
Advisory (1) stating that continuing COVID-19 restrictions on individuals, including long-term
use of face coverings and withdrawal from social and recreational gatherings, pose a risk of adverse
and unintended consequences, (2) further expanding vaccine eligibility, and (3) advising
government offices to resume in -person operations and services; and
WHEREAS, due to the tremendous steps the State has taken to protect Florida's most
vulnerable populations and rapidly offer vaccines to every eligible Floridian who desires one, local
communities lack justification in continuing to impose COVID-related emergency orders
restricting the rights and liberties of their citizens; and
WHEREAS, on May 3, 2021, I signed into law SB 2006 — Emergency Management —
which provides, effective July 1, 2021, that any emergency order issued by a political subdivision
must be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose, must be limited
in duration, applicability, and scope in order to reduce any infringement on individual rights or
liberties to the greatest extent possible, and may be invalidated by the Governor, at any time, if the
Governor determines that such order unnecessarily restricts individual rights or liberties; and
WHEREAS, it is my determination that the remaining emergency orders issued by the
political subdivisions of this State due to the COVID-19 emergency are not narrowly tailored to
serve a public health or safety purpose and unnecessarily restrict individual rights and liberties,
including the economic and commercial rights and liberties of business owners in this State; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida
Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following
Executive Order:
Section 1. In order to protect the rights and liberties of individuals in this State and to
accelerate the State's recovery from. the COVID-19 emergency, any emergency order issued by a
political subdivision due to the COVID-19 emergency which restricts the rights or liberties of
individuals or their businesses is invalidated.
Section 2. Nothing herein prohibits a political subdivision of the State from enacting
ordinances pursuant to regular enactment procedures to protect the health, safety, and welfare of
its local population. Only the COVID-19 emergency orders, as defined in SB 2006, enacted prior
to July 1, 2021, are hereby invalidated.
Section 3. This order is effective beginning on July 1, 2021 and shall be immediately filed
with the Division of Administrative Hearings.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Sea] of the State of
Florida to be xed, at Tallahassee
May, 20
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