SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/SB 214

Special District Funding
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SPONSOR
Fiscal Policy; Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; McClain
FILED BY
Stan McClain — District 9, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/HB 273 — CS/CS/SB 214 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Taxes & Budget.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Special District Funding; Revising agency agreements that provide state financial assistance to recipients or subrecipients to include specified special districts as an entity to which such agency may provide for the payment of invoices under specified circumstances; requiring state agencies to expedite payment requests from certain counties, municipalities, and special districts for a specified purpose; revising the definition of “rural community” to include specified special districts, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Expands state invoice payment authority to include specific special districts.

State agencies must now expedite payment requests from certain special districts, not just counties and municipalities. This change directly affects the timing of funds for these local entities.

The bill adds independent water and wastewater districts in rural areas to the definition of a rural community. This expands the scope of existing state financial assistance programs.

Agencies are required to exercise payment provisions when a district demonstrates financial hardship. This shifts the agency's role from discretionary to mandatory in these specific cases.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Expanded Definition of Rural Community majors. 288.0656(2)(e)

AIAdds independent water and wastewater special districts to the statutory definition of a rural community.

“An independent special district that provides water and wastewater services within a rural area of opportunity.” bill text, line 31 →
§ 2 Expedited Payment Requirement moderates. 215.971(1)(h)

AIMandates that state agencies expedite payment requests to ensure timely invoice payment.

“The agency shall expedite payment requests in order to facilitate the timely payment of invoices” bill text, line 42 →
§ 3 Eligibility for Invoice Payment moderates. 215.971(1)(h)

AIAllows agencies to pay invoices directly to special districts located in rural areas.

“a provision allowing the agency to provide for the payment of invoices to such county, municipality, or special district” bill text, line 34 →
TIMELINE
3/6/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 273 (Ch....
3/6/2026
Substituted CS/HB 273 -SJ 673
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 673
3/4/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26
3/4/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/3/2026
CS/CS by Fiscal Policy read 1st time
3/3/2026
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
3/2/2026
CS/CS by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
2/25/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/10/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
2/9/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
2/6/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/4/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
1/30/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Transportation,...
1/21/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
1/21/2026
Favorable by Commerce and Tourism; YEAS 10 NAYS 0
1/16/2026
On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 01/21/26, 8:30 am, 110...
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Committee on...
10/16/2025
Filed
14 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 215.971
+137 / −18
s. 288.0656
+20 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →