- State, local governments wouldn’t be able to use ESG criteria
- Republican’s proposal builds on plan announced late last year
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he will propose legislation that would bar the state and its local governments from using environmental, social, governance criteria when issuing municipal bonds, expanding his push against what he has called a “woke agenda.”
DeSantis released new details on Monday about his plan to require state and local government investments only be guided on potential returns. The Republican governor has previously said the state’s asset managers must stop using ESG investing strategies if they want to keep overseeing Florida’s money, including $220 billion of pension funds.
“We’re also finally going to make sure that ESG is not infecting other decisions at both the state and local government,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Naples on Monday. “So no investment decisions at the state or local government with ESG, no use of ESG in procurement and contracting and no use of ESG when issuing local or state bonds.”
Bloomberg Green
By Michael Smith, Danielle Moran and Nic Querolo
February 13, 2023