Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-192

No. CS/HB 4013

Lee County

SPONSOR

Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Botana

FILED BY

Adam Botana — District 80, Republican [search donations]

EFFECTIVE

This act shall take effect upon its approval by a majority vote of those qualified electors of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District and the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District voting in a referendum to be held on November 3, 2026, except that this section and section 4 shall take effect June 10, 2026.

OFFICIAL RECORD

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/4013

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Lee County; Revises boundaries of Iona-McGregor Fire Protection & Rescue Service District; removes chapter laws relating to Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District; provides for merger of districts; provides for transition of governing body; transfers assets & liabilities of Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District to Iona-McGregor Fire Protection & Rescue Service District; requires referendum.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED

Mergers two fire districts and transfers all assets and liabilities.

Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District is abolished and merged into the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District.

All assets and liabilities, including pension obligations, transfer from the abolished district to the Iona-McGregor district.

A temporary seven-member board governs the merged district until the next general election.

The merger only takes effect if a majority of voters in both districts approve it in a 2026 referendum.

KEY PROVISIONS

§ 1 Boundary Expansion majors. 1, Chapter 2000-384, Laws of Florida (as amended)

AIExpands Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District to include all territory of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.

“TOGETHER WITH All that part of Lee County that is located and situated within San Carlos Island; Estero Island; Easterly One-Half (1/2) of Section 13, Township 46 South, Range 23” bill text, line 48 →

§ 2 Repeal of District Laws majors. 2

AIRepeals the specific legislative acts that created and governed the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.

“Chapters 2000-422 and 2008-275, Laws of Florida, are repealed.” bill text, line 56 →

§ 3 Mandatory Merger and Asset Transfer majors. 3(3)

AIMerges the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District into the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District and transfers all assets and liabilities, including pension liabilities.

“All assets and liabilities, including any pension liabilities, of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District as of the effective date of this act shall be transferred to the Iona-” bill text, line 78 →

§ 4 Transitional Governing Body moderates. 3(2)

AICreates a temporary seven-member governing body for the merged district until the next general election, combining members from both former districts.

“the governing body of the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District shall be composed of the five members of the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service” bill text, line 70 →

§ 5 Referendum Requirement majors. 4(4)

AIRequires a majority vote of qualified electors in both districts to approve the merger before the act takes effect.

“In the event this question is answered affirmatively by a majority of the qualified voters in each district voting in the referendum, this act shall take effect.” bill text, line 104 →

TIMELINE

7/1/2026

Chapter No. 2026-192

6/10/2026

Approved by Governor

6/9/2026

Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

3/11/2026

Ordered enrolled

3/11/2026

In Messages

3/11/2026

CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 787

3/11/2026

Read 3rd time -SJ 787

3/11/2026

Read 2nd time -SJ 787

3/11/2026

Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

3/11/2026

Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 785

3/9/2026

Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26

2/26/2026

Received

2/25/2026

Referred to Rules

2/25/2026

In Messages

2/25/2026

CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 2

2/25/2026

Read 3rd time

2/25/2026

Added to Third Reading Calendar

2/25/2026

Read 2nd time

2/19/2026

Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)

2/10/2026

Added to Second Reading Calendar

2/10/2026

Bill released to House Calendar

2/10/2026

Reported out of State Affairs Committee

2/10/2026

Favorable by State Affairs Committee

2/6/2026

Added to State Affairs Committee agenda

1/22/2026

Now in State Affairs Committee

1/22/2026

Reported out of Ways & Means Committee

1/22/2026

Favorable by Ways & Means Committee

1/20/2026

Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda

1/13/2026

1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

1/13/2026

1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

12/18/2025

Now in Ways & Means Committee

12/18/2025

Referred to State Affairs Committee

12/18/2025

Referred to Ways & Means Committee

12/15/2025

CS Filed

12/15/2025

Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

12/15/2025

Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

12/11/2025

Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

12/4/2025

Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda

11/12/2025

Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

11/12/2025

Referred to State Affairs Committee

11/12/2025

Referred to Ways & Means Committee

11/12/2025

Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

11/5/2025

Filed

37 EARLIER →

STAFF ANALYSES

1/22/2026 1:47 PM

2/10/2026 2:18 PM

7/13/2026 3:31 PM