Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill to Block Proposed Manatee County Cruise Port

Gov. DeSantis signs bill to block proposed Manatee County cruise port

DeSantis signs bill that could block proposed Manatee cruise ship terminal

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs two bills at Pier 22 in Bradenton on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Pheonix)BRADENTON — A plan to build a cruise ship port near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County that was strongly opposed by local residents may now be blocked based on a bill signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The measure (SB 302) was sponsored by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami. It was originally filed to add protectio…

Gov. DeSantis signs bill stopping proposed Manatee County cruise port

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday halting a controversial proposed Manatee cruise port.  It’s the governor’s first bill signing since the end of the legislative session.  DeSantis signed Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 1417.  Among other things, the bill bans the dredging necessary to build a controversial mega cruise ship terminal on environmentally sensitive land in Manatee County.  DeSantis says the port struck a lot of people as un…

DeSantis signs bill blocking proposed cruise port in Manatee County

Residents strongly opposed the plan, gathering over 19,000 petition signatures.

DeSantis signs bill in Bradenton blocking cruise port near Tampa Bay

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in Bradenton on Thursday blocking a cruise port at the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve in Manatee County near Tampa Bay.

DeSantis says ‘not really a need’ for new cruise port in Manatee County

The governor made the remarks Thursday before signing a bill that politicians say would further protect the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.