Both chambers of the Florida Legislature have approved a bill to ban local governments, public schools and state universities from adopting net-zero policies, where the goal is to offset the planet-warming greenhouse gases they emit into the atmosphere.

The Senate passed House Bill 1217 Wednesday. It will now be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

The bill declares that net-zero policies, which include carbon taxes and emission trading programs, are “detrimental to this state’s energy security and economic interests.”

Local governments would be barred from purchasing certain vehicles and equipment “based solely on the types or sources of fuel used by, or used in the production of, such goods.” Public money couldn’t be used for dues or donations to any organizations that have net-zero policies. For enforcement, each local government would be required to submit a signed affidavit to the state swearing that they’re in compliance with this law every year.

“When you’re taking into account what is best for your residents, especially from a cost perspective, it should not be based on trying to meet an objective that you’re never going to meet, and that is obviously going to place a financial burden on your residents,” said Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, on the Senate floor.

When the bill passed the House earlier this month, Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, asked his colleagues to approve the bill so the state could “follow the science.”

Critics argue it does the opposite. Greenhouse gases contribute to human-caused climate change, which science shows has made conditions more favorable for things like more extreme hurricanes and Tampa’s record-hot summer last year.

This bill “flies in the face of clear scientific evidence that reducing pollution is critical to protecting public health from poor air quality and impacts caused by climate change including more powerful floods, more extreme heat waves, more frequent wildfires and other deadly hazards made worse by climate change,” said Dawn Shirreffs, the Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund, in a statement.

“As a state deeply impacted by changing climate and high energy costs, we should be embracing local leadership, not banning it.”

DeSantis is expected to sign the bill, as it aligns with his messaging against “the agenda of the radical green zealots.”

In fact, some of the wording of the bill borrows exact phrases from DeSantis’ proposed state budget from earlier this year, in which he called for a prohibition of public funds being spent on “net zero policies, carbon taxes and assessments, and carbon emission trading ... which are detrimental to the state’s energy security and economic interests.”

Spokespeople for DeSantis did not respond to emails asking if the bill originated in his office.

Two years ago, DeSantis’ office helped write a bill that curtailed wind energy in the state of Florida, the Tampa Bay Times previously reported. That bill, which DeSantis signed, also deleted the majority of mentions of climate change from state law.

When it comes to the ban on net-zero policies, city officials around the state have been watching the Legislature closely.

Both the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa have made energy efficiency pushes in the past, including investments in solar. St. Petersburg previously pledged to have all power consumed within city limits to be produced by renewable energy by 2035.

When asked if any programs would be directly impacted by House Bill 1217, neither city answered.

The city of Tampa declined to comment, while St. Petersburg said it would be able to provide more detailed information if the bill becomes law.

“The City of St. Petersburg has been proud to implement policies like our Integrated Sustainability Action Plan that promote clean air and reduce energy costs for our residents,” spokesperson Samantha Bequer wrote in an email. “If this legislation were to pass, the City would implement the legislation while also striving to maintain the goals outlined in the (sustainability plan).”

According to the bill sponsors, local governments would still be allowed to pursue clean energy programs to save taxpayers money or to reduce pollution — as long as the driving force behind their actions wasn’t to achieve net-zero emissions.

But opponents, including some Democratic lawmakers, said cities could be chilled from taking these steps even to help improve residents’ health or economics for fear of being punished by the state.

Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Tamarac, said officials from the city of Fort Lauderdale reached out to her to ask if they would still be allowed to get electricity from Florida Power & Light, since that company has well-documented goals to eliminate carbon emissions.

“We’re saying that a city shouldn’t do things that they think could help with sea-level rise or help with flooding,” said Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. “It just seems so short-sighted to say money is the only factor.”

Kristy Walson, a partner at sustainability and engineering consulting firm BranchPattern, said the Kansas City-based company was planning to open an office in the Orlando area in the coming months. Walson, who lives in Florida, has spent much of her career working for clients in the public sector here, like Orange County and University of Central Florida. She’s helped them get buildings certified by sustainability programs and develop clean energy plans.

If this bill becomes law, though, the company may pull back on its plans to do more business in the state, she said.

“It’s just an utter waste of time and resources in a world where we have an undeniably changing climate,” Walson said. “It sets us behind other, more resilient-focused and energy-focused states.”

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