Florida Senate - 2025                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 1242
       
       
       
       
       
       
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                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/22/2025           .                                
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       The Committee on Rules (McClain) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 163.356, Florida
    6  Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         163.356 Creation of community redevelopment agency.—
    8         (2)(a) When the governing body adopts a resolution
    9  declaring the need for a community redevelopment agency, that
   10  body shall, by ordinance, declare itself to be an agency. All
   11  the rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities vested by
   12  this part in an agency will be vested in the governing body,
   13  subject to all responsibilities and liabilities imposed or
   14  incurred. The members of the governing body shall be the members
   15  of the agency, but such members constitute the head of a legal
   16  entity, separate, distinct, and independent from the governing
   17  body of the county or municipality.
   18         (b) A governing body that consists of five members may
   19  appoint two additional persons to act as members of the
   20  community redevelopment agency. The term of office of these
   21  additional members is 4 years, except that the first person
   22  appointed shall initially serve a term of 2 years. Persons
   23  appointed under this paragraph are subject to the provisions of
   24  this part relating to appointed members of a community
   25  redevelopment agency appoint a board of commissioners of the
   26  community redevelopment agency, which shall consist of not fewer
   27  than five or more than nine commissioners. The terms of office
   28  of the commissioners shall be for 4 years, except that three of
   29  the members first appointed shall be designated to serve terms
   30  of 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, from the date of their
   31  appointments, and all other members shall be designated to serve
   32  for terms of 4 years from the date of their appointments. A
   33  vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the
   34  unexpired term.
   35         (c) As provided in an interlocal agreement between the
   36  governing body that created the agency and one or more taxing
   37  authorities, one or more members of the board of commissioners
   38  of the agency may be representatives of a taxing authority,
   39  including members of that taxing authority’s governing body,
   40  whose membership on the board of commissioners of the agency
   41  would be considered an additional duty of office as a member of
   42  the taxing authority governing body.
   43         (d) This subsection does not amend, or require the
   44  amendment of, the structure, membership, or bylaws of any board
   45  of commissioners of an agency in existence on October 1, 2025.
   46         Section 2. Section 163.357, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   47         Section 3. Subsections (1), (3), and (4) of section
   48  163.361, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   49         163.361 Modification of community redevelopment plans.—
   50         (1) If at any time after the approval of a community
   51  redevelopment plan by the governing body it becomes necessary or
   52  desirable to amend or modify such plan, the governing body may
   53  amend such plan upon the recommendation of the agency. The
   54  agency recommendation to amend or modify a redevelopment plan
   55  may include a change in the boundaries of the redevelopment area
   56  to add land to or exclude land from the redevelopment area, or
   57  may include the development and implementation of community
   58  policing innovations.
   59         (3)(a)The governing body may not adopt In addition to the
   60  requirements of s. 163.346, and prior to the adoption of any
   61  modification to a community redevelopment plan that expands the
   62  boundaries of the community redevelopment area or extends the
   63  time certain set forth in the redevelopment plan as required by
   64  s. 163.362(10), the agency shall report such proposed
   65  modification to each taxing authority in writing or by an oral
   66  presentation, or both, regarding such proposed modification.
   67         (b) For any community redevelopment agency that was not
   68  created pursuant to a delegation of authority under s. 163.410
   69  by a county that has adopted a home rule charter and that
   70  modifies its adopted community redevelopment plan in a manner
   71  that expands the boundaries of the redevelopment area after
   72  October 1, 2006, the following additional procedures are
   73  required prior to adoption by the governing body of a modified
   74  community redevelopment plan:
   75         1. Within 30 days after receipt of any report of a proposed
   76  modification that expands the boundaries of the redevelopment
   77  area, the county may provide notice by registered mail to the
   78  governing body of the municipality and the community
   79  redevelopment agency that the county has competing policy goals
   80  and plans for the public funds the county would be required to
   81  deposit to the community redevelopment trust fund under the
   82  proposed modification to the community redevelopment plan.
   83         2. If the notice required in subparagraph 1. is timely
   84  provided, the governing body of the county and the governing
   85  body of the municipality that created the community
   86  redevelopment agency shall schedule and hold a joint hearing co
   87  chaired by the chair of the governing body of the county and the
   88  mayor of the municipality, with the agenda to be set by the
   89  chair of the governing body of the county, at which the
   90  competing policy goals for the public funds shall be discussed.
   91  For those community redevelopment agencies for which the board
   92  of commissioners of the community redevelopment agency are
   93  comprised as specified in s. 163.356(2), a designee of the
   94  community redevelopment agency shall participate in the joint
   95  meeting as a nonvoting member. Any such hearing shall be held
   96  within 90 days after receipt by the county of the recommended
   97  modification of the adopted community redevelopment plan. Prior
   98  to the joint public hearing, the county may propose an
   99  alternative modified community redevelopment plan that meets the
  100  requirements of s. 163.360 to address the conditions identified
  101  in the resolution making a finding of necessity required under
  102  s. 163.355. If such an alternative modified redevelopment plan
  103  is proposed by the county, such plan shall be delivered to the
  104  governing body of the municipality that created the community
  105  redevelopment agency and the executive director or other officer
  106  of the community redevelopment agency by registered mail at
  107  least 30 days prior to holding the joint meeting.
  108         3. If the notice required in subparagraph 1. is timely
  109  provided, the municipality may not proceed with the adoption of
  110  a modified plan until 30 days after the joint hearing unless the
  111  governing body of the county has failed to schedule or a
  112  majority of the members of the governing body of the county have
  113  failed to attend the joint hearing within the required 90-day
  114  period.
  115         4. Notwithstanding the time requirements established in
  116  subparagraphs 2. and 3., the county and the municipality may at
  117  any time voluntarily use the dispute resolution process
  118  established in chapter 164 to attempt to resolve any competing
  119  policy goals between the county and municipality related to the
  120  community redevelopment agency. Nothing in this subparagraph
  121  grants the county or the municipality the authority to require
  122  the other local government to participate in the dispute
  123  resolution process.
  124         (4) A modification to a community redevelopment plan that
  125  includes a change in the boundaries of the redevelopment area to
  126  add land must be supported by a resolution as provided in s.
  127  163.355.
  128         Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
  129  163.370, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (d) is
  130  added to subsection (3) of that section, to read:
  131         163.370 Powers; counties and municipalities; community
  132  redevelopment agencies.—
  133         (2) Every county and municipality shall have all the powers
  134  necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes
  135  and provisions of this part, including the following powers in
  136  addition to others herein granted:
  137         (c) To undertake and carry out community redevelopment and
  138  related activities within the community redevelopment area,
  139  which may include:
  140         1. Acquisition of property within a slum area or a blighted
  141  area by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant, bequest, devise,
  142  or other voluntary method of acquisition.
  143         2. Demolition and removal of buildings and improvements.
  144         3. Installation, construction, or reconstruction of
  145  streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, public areas of major
  146  hotels that are constructed in support of convention centers,
  147  including meeting rooms, banquet facilities, parking garages,
  148  lobbies, and passageways, and other improvements necessary for
  149  carrying out in the community redevelopment area the community
  150  redevelopment objectives of this part in accordance with the
  151  community redevelopment plan.
  152         4. Disposition of any property acquired in the community
  153  redevelopment area at its fair value as provided in s. 163.380
  154  for uses in accordance with the community redevelopment plan.
  155         5. Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or
  156  compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other
  157  improvements in accordance with the community redevelopment
  158  plan.
  159         6. Acquisition by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant,
  160  bequest, devise, or other voluntary method of acquisition of
  161  real property in the community redevelopment area which, under
  162  the community redevelopment plan, is to be repaired or
  163  rehabilitated for dwelling use or related facilities, repair or
  164  rehabilitation of the structures for guidance purposes, and
  165  resale of the property.
  166         7. Acquisition by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant,
  167  bequest, devise, or other voluntary method of acquisition of any
  168  other real property in the community redevelopment area when
  169  necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary, or unsafe
  170  conditions; lessen density; eliminate obsolete or other uses
  171  detrimental to the public welfare; or otherwise to remove or
  172  prevent the spread of blight or deterioration or to provide land
  173  for needed public facilities.
  174         8. Acquisition, without regard to any requirement that the
  175  area be a slum or blighted area, of air rights in an area
  176  consisting principally of land in highways, railway or subway
  177  tracks, bridge or tunnel entrances, or other similar facilities
  178  which have a blighting influence on the surrounding area and
  179  over which air rights sites are to be developed for the
  180  elimination of such blighting influences and for the provision
  181  of housing (and related facilities and uses) designed
  182  specifically for, and limited to, families and individuals of
  183  low or moderate income.
  184         9. Acquisition by purchase, lease, option, gift, grant,
  185  bequest, devise, or other voluntary method of acquisition of
  186  property in unincorporated enclaves surrounded by the boundaries
  187  of a community redevelopment area when it is determined
  188  necessary by the agency to accomplish the community
  189  redevelopment plan.
  190         10. Construction of foundations and platforms necessary for
  191  the provision of air rights sites of housing (and related
  192  facilities and uses) designed specifically for, and limited to,
  193  families and individuals of low or moderate income.
  194         (3) The following projects may not be paid for or financed
  195  by increment revenues:
  196         (d) Sponsorship, whether direct or indirect, of concerts,
  197  festivals, holiday events, parades, or similar activities.
  198         Section 5. Section 163.3755, Florida Statutes, is amended
  199  to read:
  200         163.3755 Termination of community redevelopment agencies.—
  201         (1) A community redevelopment agency in existence on
  202  October 1, 2019, shall terminate on the time certain for
  203  completing all redevelopment expiration date provided in the
  204  agency’s charter as required by s. 163.362(10) on October 1,
  205  2019, or on September 30, 2039, whichever is earlier, unless the
  206  governing body of the county or municipality that created the
  207  community redevelopment agency approves its continued existence
  208  by a majority vote of the members of the governing body.
  209         (2)(a) If the governing body of the county or municipality
  210  that created the community redevelopment agency does not approve
  211  its continued existence by a majority vote of the governing body
  212  members, A community redevelopment agency with outstanding bonds
  213  as of October 1, 2025 2019, that do not mature until after the
  214  time certain for completing all redevelopment provided in the
  215  agency’s charter termination date of the agency or September 30,
  216  2039, whichever is earlier, remains in existence until the date
  217  the bonds mature.
  218         (b) A community redevelopment agency operating under this
  219  subsection on or after September 30, 2039, may not extend the
  220  maturity date of any outstanding bonds beyond the time certain
  221  for completing all redevelopment provided in the agency’s
  222  charter.
  223         (c) The county or municipality that created the community
  224  redevelopment agency must issue a new finding of necessity
  225  limited to timely meeting the remaining bond obligations of the
  226  community redevelopment agency.
  227         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
  228  112.3143, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  229         112.3143 Voting conflicts.—
  230         (3)
  231         (b) However, a commissioner of a community redevelopment
  232  agency created or designated pursuant to s. 163.356 or s.
  233  163.357, or an officer of an independent special tax district
  234  elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis, is not prohibited from
  235  voting, when voting in said capacity.
  236         Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 163.340, Florida
  237  Statutes, is amended to read:
  238         163.340 Definitions.—The following terms, wherever used or
  239  referred to in this part, have the following meanings:
  240         (1) “Agency” or “community redevelopment agency” means a
  241  public agency created by, or designated pursuant to, s. 163.356
  242  or s. 163.357.
  243         Section 8. Section 163.346, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  244  read:
  245         163.346 Notice to taxing authorities.—Before the governing
  246  body adopts any resolution or enacts any ordinance required
  247  under s. 163.355, s. 163.356, s. 163.357, or s. 163.387; creates
  248  a community redevelopment agency; approves, adopts, or amends a
  249  community redevelopment plan; or issues redevelopment revenue
  250  bonds under s. 163.385, the governing body must provide public
  251  notice of such proposed action pursuant to s. 125.66(2) or s.
  252  166.041(3)(a) and, at least 15 days before such proposed action,
  253  mail by registered mail a notice to each taxing authority which
  254  levies ad valorem taxes on taxable real property contained
  255  within the geographic boundaries of the redevelopment area.
  256         Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section
  257  163.360, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  258         163.360 Community redevelopment plans.—
  259         (6)
  260         (b) For any governing body that has not authorized by June
  261  5, 2006, a study to consider whether a finding of necessity
  262  resolution pursuant to s. 163.355 should be adopted, has not
  263  adopted a finding of necessity resolution pursuant to s. 163.355
  264  by March 31, 2007, has not adopted a community redevelopment
  265  plan by June 7, 2007, and was not authorized to exercise
  266  community redevelopment powers pursuant to a delegation of
  267  authority under s. 163.410 by a county that has adopted a home
  268  rule charter, the following additional procedures are required
  269  prior to adoption by the governing body of a community
  270  redevelopment plan under subsection (7):
  271         1. Within 30 days after receipt of any community
  272  redevelopment plan recommended by a community redevelopment
  273  agency under subsection (5), the county may provide written
  274  notice by registered mail to the governing body of the
  275  municipality and to the community redevelopment agency that the
  276  county has competing policy goals and plans for the public funds
  277  the county would be required to deposit to the community
  278  redevelopment trust fund under the proposed community
  279  redevelopment plan.
  280         2. If the notice required in subparagraph 1. is timely
  281  provided, the governing body of the county and the governing
  282  body of the municipality that created the community
  283  redevelopment agency shall schedule and hold a joint hearing co
  284  chaired by the chair of the governing body of the county and the
  285  mayor of the municipality, with the agenda to be set by the
  286  chair of the governing body of the county, at which the
  287  competing policy goals for the public funds shall be discussed.
  288  For those community redevelopment agencies in existence on
  289  October 1, 2025, for which the board of commissioners of the
  290  community redevelopment agency are comprised as specified in s.
  291  163.356(2), Florida Statutes 2024, a designee of the community
  292  redevelopment agency shall participate in the joint meeting as a
  293  nonvoting member. Any such hearing must be held within 90 days
  294  after receipt by the county of the recommended community
  295  redevelopment plan. Prior to the joint public hearing, the
  296  county may propose an alternative redevelopment plan that meets
  297  the requirements of this section to address the conditions
  298  identified in the resolution making a finding of necessity
  299  required by s. 163.355. If such an alternative redevelopment
  300  plan is proposed by the county, such plan shall be delivered to
  301  the governing body of the municipality that created the
  302  community redevelopment agency and to the executive director or
  303  other officer of the community redevelopment agency by
  304  registered mail at least 30 days prior to holding the joint
  305  meeting.
  306         3. If the notice required in subparagraph 1. is timely
  307  provided, the municipality may not proceed with the adoption of
  308  the plan under subsection (7) until 30 days after the joint
  309  hearing unless the governing body of the county has failed to
  310  schedule or a majority of the members of the governing body of
  311  the county have failed to attend the joint hearing within the
  312  required 90-day period.
  313         4. Notwithstanding the time requirements established in
  314  subparagraphs 2. and 3., the county and the municipality may at
  315  any time voluntarily use the dispute resolution process
  316  established in chapter 164 to attempt to resolve any competing
  317  policy goals between the county and municipality related to the
  318  community redevelopment agency. Nothing in this subparagraph
  319  grants the county or the municipality the authority to require
  320  the other local government to participate in the dispute
  321  resolution process.
  322         Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 163.367, Florida
  323  Statutes, is amended to read:
  324         163.367 Public officials, commissioners, and employees
  325  subject to code of ethics.—
  326         (1) The officers, commissioners, and employees of a
  327  community redevelopment agency created by, or designated
  328  pursuant to, s. 163.356 or s. 163.357 are subject to part III of
  329  chapter 112, and commissioners also must comply with the ethics
  330  training requirements as imposed in s. 112.3142.
  331         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  332  163.380, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  333         163.380 Disposal of property in community redevelopment
  334  area.—The disposal of property in a community redevelopment area
  335  which is acquired by eminent domain is subject to the
  336  limitations set forth in s. 73.013.
  337         (3)(a) Prior to disposition of any real property or
  338  interest therein in a community redevelopment area, any county,
  339  municipality, or community redevelopment agency shall give
  340  public notice of such disposition by publication in a newspaper
  341  having a general circulation in the community, at least 30 days
  342  prior to the execution of any contract to sell, lease, or
  343  otherwise transfer real property and, prior to the delivery of
  344  any instrument of conveyance with respect thereto under the
  345  provisions of this section, invite proposals from, and make all
  346  pertinent information available to, private redevelopers or any
  347  persons interested in undertaking to redevelop or rehabilitate a
  348  community redevelopment area or any part thereof. Such notice
  349  shall identify the area or portion thereof and shall state that
  350  proposals must be made by those interested within 30 days after
  351  the date of publication of the notice and that such further
  352  information as is available may be obtained at such office as is
  353  designated in the notice. The county, municipality, or community
  354  redevelopment agency shall consider all such redevelopment or
  355  rehabilitation proposals and the financial and legal ability of
  356  the persons making such proposals to carry them out; and the
  357  county, municipality, or community redevelopment agency may
  358  negotiate with any persons for proposals for the purchase,
  359  lease, or other transfer of any real property acquired by it in
  360  the community redevelopment area. The county, municipality, or
  361  community redevelopment agency may accept such proposal as it
  362  deems to be in the public interest and in furtherance of the
  363  purposes of this part. Except In the case of a community
  364  redevelopment agency in existence on October 1, 2025, for which
  365  the board of commissioners of the community redevelopment agency
  366  is comprised as specified in s. 163.356(2), Florida Statutes
  367  2024 governing body acting as the agency, as provided in s.
  368  163.357, a notification of intention to accept such proposal
  369  must be filed with the governing body not less than 30 days
  370  prior to any such acceptance. Thereafter, the county,
  371  municipality, or community redevelopment agency may execute such
  372  contract in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) and
  373  deliver deeds, leases, and other instruments and take all steps
  374  necessary to effectuate such contract.
  375         Section 12. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
  376  163.512, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  377         163.512 Community redevelopment neighborhood improvement
  378  districts; creation; advisory council; dissolution.—
  379         (1) Upon the recommendation of the community redevelopment
  380  agency and after a local planning ordinance has been adopted
  381  authorizing the creation of community redevelopment neighborhood
  382  improvement districts, the local governing body of a
  383  municipality or county may create community redevelopment
  384  neighborhood improvement districts by the enactment of a
  385  separate ordinance for each district, which ordinance:
  386         (d) Designates the community redevelopment board of
  387  commissioners established pursuant to s. 163.356 or s. 163.357
  388  as the board of directors for the district.
  389         Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
  390  
  391  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  392  And the title is amended as follows:
  393         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  394  and insert:
  395                        A bill to be entitled                      
  396         An act relating to community redevelopment agencies;
  397         amending s. 163.356, F.S.; revising the structure of
  398         community redevelopment agencies to require a
  399         governing body to declare itself to be an agency;
  400         authorizing a governing body to appoint additional
  401         members of the agency under certain circumstances;
  402         providing for terms of such additional members;
  403         providing construction; repealing s. 163.357, F.S.,
  404         relating to the governing body as the community
  405         redevelopment agency; amending s. 163.361, F.S.;
  406         prohibiting the governing body from adopting any
  407         modification to a community redevelopment plan which
  408         expands the boundaries of the community redevelopment
  409         area or extends the time certain set forth in the
  410         redevelopment plan; amending s. 163.370, F.S.;
  411         revising the authorized activities of community
  412         redevelopment agencies; prohibiting community
  413         redevelopment agencies from paying for or financing by
  414         increment revenues certain projects; amending s.
  415         163.3755, F.S.; revising the date on which community
  416         redevelopment agencies must terminate; prohibiting a
  417         community redevelopment agency from extending the
  418         maturity date of outstanding bonds beyond a time
  419         certain; amending ss. 112.3143, 163.340, 163.346,
  420         163.360, 163.367, 163.380, and 163.512, F.S.;
  421         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
  422         providing an effective date.