Seminole County Chamber Leads the Charge in Shaping Florida's Statewide EV Charger Regulations

In the 2024 session, the Florida Legislature passed a law preempting local governments of their power to regulate electric vehicle (EV) chargers, handing full control to the state. The new legislation directs state officials to create a unified set of statewide rules for EV chargers, similar to how gas pumps are regulated.

As one of the top chambers leading the state in improving its electric vehicle infrastructure, Seminole County Chamber President & CEO Rebekah Arthur joined Ben Pauluhn, founder of Optimus Energy Solutions, in providing testimony at the second of three public hearings to develop rules for EV chargers in Florida. 

Also at the hearing were several groups focused on clean energy, including Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy (CICE), local governments like the City of Orlando and Orange and Seminole Counties, and major companies like Walmart, Siemens, and ChargePoint. 

“Our businesses want the freedom to deliver what customers want with as little interference from the government as possible,” Arthur said at the hearing. “Whatever anyone's thoughts are about electric vehicles, there is a significant segment of consumers who drive EVs and many of our businesses would like to cater to that segment with chargers.”

Throughout the hearing, many groups talked about the various aspects of the proposed rules that covered installation, safety, registration, punishment and more. The list of specific subjects that will be part of the new rules can be found here. 

Pauluhn, whose company has installed more than 1,000 chargers in Florida and partners with CICE to provide no-cost chargers for chambers, echoed Arthur’s thoughts.

“If the State of Florida chooses to issue rules regarding EV charging infrastructure or the provision of EV charging services, it would be in the best interest of all parties to limit this in scope to only that which creates a faster local permitting process to build out stations, removes frivolous requirements (i.e. landscape) and promotes freedom of economic activity and consumer choice,” he said in his written statement. “Florida is 2nd in the nation in EV adoption, with zero state intervention to support. Let’s leave state intervention on both sides out of it. Layering regulations will unnecessarily hurt private business, hurt consumers and result in fewer employment opportunities.”

During the hearing, Richard Kimsey, Director of the Division of Consumer Services for Florida, emphasized the state would not prohibit any local government from incentivizing the installation of electric vehicle chargers. He also stressed the new rules would not conflict with existing codes on the state or federal level, particularly when it comes to NEVI funding for chargers. 

Arthur says the Seminole County Chamber decided to voice its thoughts to the state because of the chamber’s push to provide EV chargers for businesses who want them installed for customers.

“My ask is that the state makes the installation of chargers as economically feasible as possible without hurdles and expenses that may prevent businesses from offering these services,” she testified in the hearing. “Allowing businesses to make choices on the services they offer with as few regulations as possible will allow our businesses to prosper and keep Florida and Seminole County thriving.”

The goal is to have a draft of the new rules complete in the fall and the new rules complete by the end of the year.