Gov. DeSantis signed 17 bills into law on Tuesday
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)
FLORIDA – Gov. DeSantis signed 17 bills into law on Tuesday, with some having local impacts in Duval and Nassau County.
Three of the recently signed bills will bring notable changes to Nassau and Duval counties, including dissolving a long-dormant water district, giving Duval County schools more legal independence, and pushing Cecil Airport toward becoming an aerospace hub.
Nassau County water district dissolvedCS/HB 4017 abolishes the Nassau County Recreation and Water Conservation District No. 1, with its assets transferring to Nassau County. According to a Florida House staff analysis, the district has been functionally inactive since 2002. County officials say eliminating the district will reduce administrative costs and streamline local governmentDuval school board gains legal independenceHB 4049 – The Duval County School Board will soon have the ability to hire its own general counsel, separate from the city of Jacksonville’s legal office. The bill allows the school board to retain independent legal representation, though some legal services will still be provided through the city’s Office of General Counsel. The change gives the district greater autonomy over its legal strategy and representation. Cecil Airport poised for aerospace pushHB 4045 formally designates the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, or JAA, as responsible for driving economic development at Cecil Airport, with a specific focus on aerospace and related industries. The law also requires JAA to present an annual economic development plan for the airport to Jacksonville City Council.Here are the other bills:
HB 4027 – Hillsborough County Public Schools, Hillsborough County
HB 4029 – Hillsborough County CharterCS/HB 4047 – Lee County Tourist Development Council, Lee CountyHB 4063 – West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund – Special Act AmendmentHB 4065 – West Palm Beach Firefighters Pension Fund, Palm Beach CountyHB 4067 – Plantation Acres Improvement District, Broward CountyCS/HB 4081 – Eastpoint Water and Sewer District, Franklin CountyHB 4089 – City of Trenton, Gilchrist County
CS/HB 4093 – Fellsmere Water Control District, Indian River County
CS/CS/HB 4095 – Headwaters Water Control District, Indian River CountyHB 6507 – Relief/L.E./Department of Children and Families
CS/CS/HB 6509 – Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation
HB 6517 – Relief/Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen/City of St. Petersburg
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