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Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-219

No. HB 4085

Okeechobee Utility Authority, Okeechobee County
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SPONSOR
Tuck
FILED BY
Kaylee Tuck — District 83, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
This act shall take effect July 1, 2026, or upon becoming a law, whichever occurs later.

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Okeechobee Utility Authority, Okeechobee County; Provides for conveyance of specified lands to Okeechobee Utility Authority.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Transfers 407 acres of state land to Okeechobee Utility Authority.

The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund must transfer 407 acres of state land in Okeechobee County to the Okeechobee Utility Authority. This transfer is a mandatory conveyance in fee simple, meaning the utility gains full ownership of the property.

The transfer must be completed within 30 days after the act takes effect. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, or upon becoming law, whichever occurs later. This creates a strict deadline for the state to finalize the land transfer.

The land is located in Sections 26, 27, 34, and 35, Township 36 South, Range 35 East. The bill provides a detailed legal description of the parcel's boundaries, including specific distances and bearings along Cemetery Road and an abandoned railroad right-of-way.

This transfer moves state-owned land from the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to a local utility authority. The utility will hold the land in fee simple, giving it full control over the property without state oversight or restrictions specified in this act.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Land Transfer majors. New Section 1 of the act

AIRequires the state to transfer 406.89 acres of state-owned land to the Okeechobee Utility Authority in fee simple.

“The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund shall convey to the Okeechobee Utility Authority the lands in Okeechobee in fee simple” bill text, line 9 →
§ 2 30-Day Deadline moderates. New Section 2 of the act

AIMandates the state complete the land conveyance within 30 days of the act's effective date.

“shall convey the above described lands to the Okeechobee Utility Authority within 30 days after the effective date” bill text, line 49 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-219
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
Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 793
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 793
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 793
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
Passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
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
2/4/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/4/2026
Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
2/4/2026
Favorable by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
2/2/2026
Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda
1/28/2026
Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/26/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
32 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES