FLORIDA – Gov. DeSantis signed 17 bills into law on Tuesday, with some having local impacts in Duval and Nassau County.
Three of the recently signed bills will bring notable changes to Nassau and Duval counties, including dissolving a long-dormant water district, giving Duval County schools more legal independence, and pushing Cecil Airport toward becoming an aerospace hub.
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Nassau County water district dissolved
- CS/HB 4017 abolishes the Nassau County Recreation and Water Conservation District No. 1, with its assets transferring to Nassau County. According to a Florida House staff analysis, the district has been functionally inactive since 2002. County officials say eliminating the district will reduce administrative costs and streamline local government
Duval school board gains legal independence
- HB 4049 - The Duval County School Board will soon have the ability to hire its own general counsel, separate from the city of Jacksonville’s legal office. The bill allows the school board to retain independent legal representation, though some legal services will still be provided through the city’s Office of General Counsel. The change gives the district greater autonomy over its legal strategy and representation.
Cecil Airport poised for aerospace push
- HB 4045 formally designates the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, or JAA, as responsible for driving economic development at Cecil Airport, with a specific focus on aerospace and related industries. The law also requires JAA to present an annual economic development plan for the airport to Jacksonville City Council.
Here are the other bills:
- HB 4001 – Jefferson County
- HB 4027 – Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough County
- HB 4029 - Hillsborough County Charter
- CS/HB 4047 - Lee County Tourist Development Council, Lee County
- HB 4063 - West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund - Special Act Amendment
- HB 4065 - West Palm Beach Firefighters Pension Fund, Palm Beach County
- HB 4067 - Plantation Acres Improvement District, Broward County
- CS/HB 4081 - Eastpoint Water and Sewer District, Franklin County
- HB 4089 - City of Trenton, Gilchrist County
- CS/HB 4093 - Fellsmere Water Control District, Indian River County
- CS/CS/HB 4095 - Headwaters Water Control District, Indian River County
- HB 6507 - Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families
- CS/CS/HB 6509 - Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation
- HB 6517 - Relief/Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen/City of St. Petersburg