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Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-197

No. HB 4029

Hillsborough County Charter
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SPONSOR
Owen
FILED BY
Michael Owen — District 70, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
This act shall take effect upon its approval by a majority vote of the qualified electors of Hillsborough County voting in a referendum conducted in accordance with the provisions of law relating to elections currently in force, except this section and section 2 shall take effect June 8, 2026.

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Hillsborough County Charter ; Revises number of commissioners on Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners; revises territory of each county district; revises district reapportionment requirements; revises vote count requirements for enactment of ordinances & resolutions, for county internal auditor appointments & removals, for county administrator appointments & removals, for county attorney appointments & removals, & for charter amendments; revises process for appointing charter review board members & for proposing amendments to charter; provides requirements for transitions to single-member district & to 11-member board of commissioners; requires referendum.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Expands Hillsborough County Commission from 7 to 9 members, all from single-member districts.

The board grows from 7 to 9 commissioners, with all seats elected from single-member districts. If the county population reaches 2.5 million, the board expands to 11 members.

Voting thresholds for key actions shift from fixed numbers to majority-plus-one of the entire board. This includes appointing or removing the county administrator, county attorney, and internal auditor.

Ordinances and resolutions now require a majority of the entire board to pass, rather than a fixed number of affirmative votes. Motions still pass by a majority of members present.

A charter review board will now consist of two members appointed by each commissioner, replacing the previous system of 14 randomly selected electors.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Board Size and Districts majors. Sec. 4.02. - Board of County Commissioners

AIIncreases the board from 7 to 9 members, with all members elected from single-member districts. The board expands to 11 members if the county population reaches 2.5 million.

“The board of county commissioners shall consist of 9 commissioners, each of whom shall be elected from one of nine districts, unless the county has a population of at least 2,500,0”
§ 2 Vote Thresholds majors. Sec. 4.08. - Enactment of ordinances and resolutions

AIChanges the vote required to pass ordinances and resolutions from a fixed number of affirmative votes to a majority of the entire board membership.

“all ordinances, rules and resolutions shall be adopted by a vote of the majority of the entire membership of the board of county commissioners” bill text, line 105 →
§ 3 Charter Amendments moderates. Sec. 8.01. - By the Board of County Commissioners

AIChanges the vote required for the board to propose charter amendments from a fixed number of votes to a majority plus one of the entire board.

“The board of county commissioners may propose amendments to this Charter by ordinance approved by at least a majority plus one (1) of the entire membership” bill text, line 253 →
§ 4 Charter Review Board moderates. Sec. 8.02. - Charter Review Board

AIChanges the composition of the charter review board from 14 electors appointed by the board to two members appointed by each commissioner.

“the board of county commissioners shall appoint a charter review board consisting of two members appointed by each commissioner” bill text, line 258 →
§ 5 Transition to Single-Member Districts moderates. Sec. 10.09 – Transition to Single-Member Districts

AIRequires the board to establish single-member district apportionment by October 1, 2027, and specifies staggered terms for the 2028 election.

“By October 1, 2027, the board of county commissioners shall establish the apportionment of single-member districts under the procedures provided in section 4.06” bill text, line 317 →
§ 6 Transition to 11-Member Board moderates. Sec. 10.10 – Transition to 11-Member Board of County Commissioners

AIRequires the board to reapportion districts within 120 days of a census showing a population of at least 2.5 million, and specifies staggered terms for the first election following that census.

“Within 120 days after the certification of a federal decennial census which determines the county has a population of at least 2,500,000, the board of county commissioners shall” bill text, line 327 →
§ 7 Referendum moderates. 2. Referendum election

AIRequires a countywide referendum on November 3, 2026, for the charter amendment to take effect.

“The referendum election called for by this act shall be held on November 3, 2026, the 2026 general election.” bill text, line 339 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-197
6/8/2026
Approved by Governor
5/27/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/11/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/11/2026
In Messages
3/11/2026
Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 788
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 788
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 788
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
2/18/2026
Received
2/12/2026
Referred to Rules
2/12/2026
In Messages
2/11/2026
Passed; YEAS 87, NAYS 26
2/11/2026
Read 3rd time
2/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/11/2026
Read 2nd time
2/5/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
2/3/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/3/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/3/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
1/30/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
1/29/2026
Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
1/14/2026
Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
12/12/2025
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/2/2025
Filed
32 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES