JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida bill protecting homeowners’ right to fly certain flags outside of their homes cleared its second Senate committee Wednesday morning.
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In 2017 Action News Jax brought you the story of a homeowner in St. Johns County who was told by their homeowner’s association, they had to take down the Thin Blue Line flag displayed outside their home.
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One year later, a local Jacksonville business ran into problems with the city for displaying military flags on its property.
Now, a bill moving in the State Capitol aims to protect homeowners’ right to display certain flags, regardless of any HOA restrictions.
“The law enforcement community has been talking about this for a long time,” Steve Zona, President of the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, said.
Zona explained the bill attempts to stop HOAs from preventing people from displaying patriotic flags and flags showing support for first responders.
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“Homeowners associations on this issue have kind of overstepped their bounds and overreached and we’re happy to see this legislation moving forward,” Zona said.
The bill specifically protects homeowners’ right to display the US and Florida Flags, flags supporting law enforcement and other first responders, as well as the flags of the country’s military branches.
However, the bill would still allow HOAs to prohibit the display of other flags like those representing the LGBTQ community, causes like Black Lives Matter and flags supporting political candidates.
In 2020, a Jacksonville resident filed suit against his HOA after it told him he couldn’t fly a Black Lives Matter flag on his home.
That case is still being litigated.
Read: Couple, HOA battle over flag honoring woman’s son killed in workplace shooting
Zona argued the flags covered by the bill aren’t controversial and deserve the additional protections.
“You know, some people want to say it’s divisive. It’s not divisive because if you look at the voting history in the House and the Senate, this is almost unanimous support from Republicans and Democrats and you know, they all realize the meaning behind this legislation,” Zona said.
The bill only has one more committee stop in both the Senate and the House.
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In the four committees, the bill has already passed through, it’s received just a single no vote.
