Whoâs behind a thorny Florida property rights bill? A real estate empire It would bolster a law critics say is a hurdle to protecting the environment. Â Â Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, sits at the Capitol in Tallahassee during session earlier this month. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ] Updated Mar. 16 A bill in the Florida Legislature that would bolster a state property rights law â one critics say already scares local governments away from protecting the environment â was written by representatives of a major development business that has donated to its Senate sponsor. Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, said he worked with a lobbyist for the Barron Collier Companies and Collier Enterprises Management to draft the proposal. An email shows a lobbyist passed along draft language from an executive at Barron Collier Companies, one branch of a real estate and investment empire that traces back to Collier Countyâs namesake.