SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-222

No. CS/CS/HB 4091

Sarasota and Manatee Counties
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SPONSOR
State Affairs Committee; Ways & Means Committee; Conerly
FILED BY
William Conerly — District 72, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Except for this section and sections 1 and 2, which shall take effect June 16, 2026, this act shall take effect only upon approval by a majority vote of those landowners who are not exempt or immune from ad valorem taxes or non-ad valorem assessments who are present at a landowner meeting to be held within 20 days after this section becomes a law.

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Sarasota and Manatee Counties ; Creates University Town Center Improvement District, independent special taxing district, in Sarasota & Manatee Counties; provides purposes of district; establishes boundaries of district; provides powers of district; creates Board of Supervisors; provides for organization, powers, duties, terms of office, & compensation of board; provides for landowners' meetings & election of supervisors; provides non-ad valorem assessments; provides for issuance of bonds; provides minimum charter requirements; provides boundary changes; requires that certain requirements be set forth under special circumstance.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a new taxing district with bond and assessment powers.

The bill creates the University Town Center Improvement District, a new independent special district spanning roughly 1,470 acres in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. It will levy non-ad valorem assessments and issue bonds to fund stormwater, flood control, and drainage infrastructure.

The district is governed by a five-member board of supervisors elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis by landowners. The board can levy assessments, issue bonds, and set service rates, but it is explicitly prohibited from levying ad valorem property taxes.

The district's charter can only be amended by a special act of the Florida Legislature. The district is also prohibited from using the power of condemnation to acquire property.

The bill takes effect only if a majority of non-exempt landowners present at a meeting within 20 days of enactment approve it. If approved, the district will begin operations and hold its first annual landowner meeting in June 2026.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Creates a new independent special district with taxing authority majors. 3

AIEstablishes the University Town Center Improvement District as a new independent special district spanning Sarasota and Manatee Counties, granting it the power to levy non-ad valorem assessments and issue bonds to fund stormwater and flood control infrastructure.

“The University Town Center Improvement District is created as an independent special district in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.” bill text, line 109 →
§ 2 Grants broad infrastructure and financial powers majors. 4, Charter Section 3(2)

AIAuthorizes the district to construct and maintain drainage, flood control, and mosquito control facilities, and to issue revenue and general obligation bonds to finance these projects, subject to specific statutory limits.

“The district shall have the authority, power, and duties to provide for drainage and water control.” bill text, line 619 →
§ 3 Prohibits ad valorem taxation and condemnation moderates. 4, Charter Section 10(2)

AIExplicitly restricts the district from levying ad valorem property taxes and from exercising the power of eminent domain, limiting its revenue sources to non-ad valorem assessments and bond issuance.

“The district shall not have the power to levy ad valorem taxes.” bill text, line 910 →
§ 4 Establishes one-acre, one-vote governance moderates. 4, Charter Section 4(1)

AIRequires the district to be governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors elected by landowners on a one-acre, one-vote basis, with voting rights limited to landowners who are not exempt or immune from taxes.

“The district shall be governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis by the landowners in the district.” bill text, line 700 →
§ 5 Allows boundary contraction for residential conversion moderates. 4, Charter Section 11

AIPermits the district to remove acreage from its boundaries if commercial or multifamily land is converted to residential condominium use, provided the conversion is recorded and approved by a supermajority of the Board of Supervisors.

“the district's boundaries may be contracted and acreage may be removed from the district when commercial or multifamily acreage is converted to a residential condominium use.” bill text, line 957 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-222
6/16/2026
Approved by Governor
6/15/2026
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 794
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 794
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 794
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
3/4/2026
Received
3/4/2026
Referred to Rules
3/4/2026
In Messages
3/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
3/4/2026
Read 3rd time
3/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/4/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
2/26/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
CS Filed
2/26/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/26/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/26/2026
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
2/24/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/11/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/11/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
2/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/10/2026
CS Filed
2/10/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/10/2026
Reported out of Ways & Means Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable with CS by Ways & Means Committee
2/6/2026
Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
1/28/2026
Now in Ways & Means Committee
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 Ways & Means Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
38 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES