Florida Sen. Stan McClain comes off as an affable guy — the type of person you might like to get a beer with.

But after seeing the legislation he’s filed ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session, you may want to order a double.

McClain, an Ocala Republican, who is “real life” is a residential building contractor in real life; he speaks for the development community. And for several years running he’s been behind some of the worst pro-development legislation out of Tallahassee. But for the upcoming 2026 legislative session, he’s outdone himself.

Six of the worst bills filed ahead of session — a “dirty” half-dozen — have been sponsored by McClain. Collectively, if passed, they would cut citizens out of the approval process on huge development proposals; they would make it impossible for local governments to pass their own rules regarding wetlands or water quality. They would make it harder for cities or counties to raise impact fees or even enforce their own rules and regulations.

And McClain chairs the powerful Senate Community Affairs Committee, which has already heard one of these bills and is slated to hear another.

Here’s a look at each of the six bills:

• Senate Bill 208, “Land Use and Development Regulations” — Prohibits local governments from denying or delaying residential development based on “compatibility” issues if it’s located next to existing residential development in the same land use category. Would also allow “infill” development to be approved administratively — with no public hearing or input — so long as it meets certain standards. Bill has already passed the Community Affairs Committee and is now in Judiciary.
• Senate Bill 354, “Blue Ribbon Projects” — “Blue Ribbon Projects” of 10,000 acres or more that check certain boxes may override existing land-use or zoning designations, with no amendments or rezoning needed; and local governments must approve administratively if requirements are met, with no opportunity for public input. Will be heard by the Community Affairs Committee, no date yet.
• Senate Bill 548, “Growth Management” — Forces local governments to demonstrate “extraordinary circumstances” before raising impact fees beyond a certain point.
• Senate Bill 588, “Local Government Enforcement Actions” — Prohibits local governments from taking “arbitrary” or “unreasonable” enforcement actions and allows the offended party to sue and recover attorney fees, costs and up to $50,0000 in damages. Appears designed to intimidate local governments.
• Senate Bill 686, “Agricultural Enclaves” — Allows areas designated as “Agricultural Enclaves” to develop single-family housing that matches the use and density of adjacent parcels even if it runs counter to the local comprehensive plan, future land use map or zoning. If the “enclave” borders an urban service district, the government must treat the enclave as if it’s located within the district. And final development plans can be approved administratively, with no public input.
• Senate Bill 718, “Land and Water Management” — Arguably the worst of the bunch; prohibits local governments from passing their own rules or laws regarding wetlands, water quality, pollution control and discharge prevention, and preempts all such authority to the state.

Bottom line, these bills could reshape Florida’s growth policies — meaning more growth, faster growth, greater impacts (like traffic, runoff, dirty water) and less of a say for citizens in shaping the future of their own communities.

It’s par for the course for our Legislature, which may as well just replace the seal on the Florida state flag with a picture of a bulldozer — with Sen. McClain at the controls.