Rick Scott signs ‘resign to run’ bill, vetoes his first bill of the year

The 'resign to run' bill could affect local and state lawmakers running in a Miami congressional district. He vetoed a bill dealing with appointments to the Palm Beach County Housing Authority.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs into law gun and school safety legislation on March 9 as family members of those who died in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting look on. Left is Gena Hoyer. Right is Andrew Pollack. In back right is Hunter Pollack. [SCOTT KEELER | Times]

But Scott vetoed it, saying that the new seats should be filled by the governor.

The governor on Friday signed HB 215, a motor vehicle bill which included a controversial amendment that allows Florida International University to open a road to its Biscayne Bay campus through an environmental preserve in North Miami.

The university had cited the Parkland shooting in its arguments that the current campus, which only has one road in and out, needed a second entry and exit point for school safety. Efforts to open up a second road through the preserve have been brought repeatedly before the Legislature since at least 2011.

Despite opposition from local officials, the FIU language was successfully added to the motor vehicle bill in the waning days of session.

Times staff writer Elizabeth Koh contributed to this report.

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