Governor Rick Scott Signs 29 Bills Into Law; Vetoes Two

Governor Rick Scott today signed the following bills into law:
CS/HB 259 – Martin County – This bill creates the Village of Indiantown in Martin County if approved by a referendum of local voters.
HB 531 – Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County – This bill increases the maximum time frame for contracts for waste hauler franchises from five years to seven years.
HB 533 – City of Tampa, Hillsborough County – This bill allows the City of Tampa to offer a defined contribution component within the pension plan provided to police officers and firefighters.
HB 647 – Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission – This bill dissolves the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission.
CS/HB 737 – Port of Palm Beach District, Palm Beach County – This bill codifies the Port of Palm Beach District’s charter and authorizes commissioners to designate foreign trade zones within the district.
CS/HB 759 – City of Gainesville, Alachua County – This bill creates the Gainesville Regional Utilities Commission to oversee city- owned utilities if approved by a referendum of local voters.
HB 891 – Carrabelle Port and Airport Authority, Franklin County – This bill abolishes the Carrabelle Port and Airport Authority, an inactive Special District.
HB 905 – Barefoot Bay Recreation District, Brevard County – This bill authorizes the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners to amend the Barefoot Bay Recreation District’s charter to limit board members to two year terms if approved by a referendum of local voters.
CS/HB 921 – Fellsmere Drainage District, Indian River County – This bill renames the Indian River County’s Fellsmere Drainage District to Fellsmere Water Control District, removes the District’s 99-year limitation and amends boundaries.
CS/HB 951 – City of Key West, Monroe County – This bill expands the eligibility of residents who can serve on Key West’s Utility Board.
CS/HB 1025 – Firefighters’ Relief and Pension Fund of the City of Pensacola, Escambia County – This bill standardizes the use of overtime hours in retirement benefit calculation, suspends cost of living benefits for Deferred Retirement Option Plan participants, and revises the treatment of partial years in calculating years of service.
CS/CS/HB 1075 – Nassau County – This bill creates the East Nassau Stewardship District to install, operate and maintain community infrastructure for 24,000 acres of residential units currently in development.
CS/HB 1135 – West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund of the City of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County – This bill makes various changes to the pension fund as agreed upon between the City of West Palm Beach and the union representing West Palm Beach police officers.
HB 1147 – Central Broward Water Control District, Broward County – This bill removes the requirement for the Central Broward Water Control District board to take action by resolution in addition to a majority vote.
HB 1149 – North Springs Improvement District, Broward County – This bill expands the boundaries of the North Springs Improvement District to include the 42-acre area known as “Watercrest.”
CS/HB 1151 – Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District and the Alva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, Lee County – This bill transfers land from the Lehigh Acres Fire District to the Alva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District to better serve nearby residents.
HB 1153 – Broward County – This bill allows signs along the interstate highways in Broward County to be exempt from general law height restrictions.
CS/HB 1291 – City of Jacksonville, Duval County – This bill provides an exemption for special event venues within the A. Philip Randolph Entertainment District to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages.
HB 1293 – City of Jacksonville, Duval County – This bill lowers the square footage and seating requirements for restaurants within special zones in the City of Jacksonville to obtain alcoholic beverage licenses.
HB 1295 – Monroe County – This bill authorizes the Monroe County School Board or the Board of County Commissioners to conduct public meetings by technological means.
HB 1297 – Palm Beach County – This bill revises the nomination process for local appointees to Building Code Advisory Board of Palm Beach County and expands list of industry associations to include any recognized regional trade association.
HB 1311 – Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, Lee and Hendry Counties – This bill expands the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement district to preserve and protect water reserves through drainage, conservation, mitigation, navigational and water management practices.
HB 1313 – Cold Springs Improvement District, Marion County – This bill amends the Cold Springs Improvement District’s boundaries to remove a section of property currently in foreclosure.
CS/HB 1315 – Lake County Water Authority, Lake County – This bill removes the power of the Lake County Water Authority to obtain land through eminent domain and develop active parks. It also authorizes the Water Authority to remove hazards from public waterways in Lake County.
HB 1317 – North Lake County Hospital District, Lake County – This bill extends the expiration date of the North Lake County Hospital District’s charter from 2017 to 2027 as approved by local voters in 2016.
CS/CS/HB 1333 – Sunbridge Stewardship District, Osceola County – This bill creates the Sunbridge Stewardship District for the purpose of installing, operating and maintaining community infrastructure.
CS/HB 1363 – Santa Rosa County – This bill creates a charter for the Pace Fire Rescue District within Santa Rosa County.
HB 1437 – Alachua County – This bill authorizes the Chief Judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit and the Alachua County clerk of courts to appoint designees to the county law library board and authorizes the board to relocate the library.
HB 1439 – Charlotte County – This bill authorizes event centers with certain seating and square footage requirements in Charlotte County to obtain special alcoholic beverage licenses.
To view the transmittal letter, click HERE.
Governor Scott vetoed the following bills:
HB 1089 – Ocean Highway and Port Authority, Nassau County – Click HERE to view the veto letter.
HB 1401 – East Mulloch Drainage District, Lee County – Click HERE to view the veto letter.