Hillsborough County lawmakers voted to advance several major local bills, including a proposal to make the Superintendent an elected and partisan office and another to expand the County Commission to nine single-member districts.
The delegation also approved a third measure creating a new Land Reserve Stewardship District. Both the Superintendent question and the County Commission expansion would be placed on the 2026 ballot.
Delegation members tabled a proposal involving ad valorem taxes for the Tampa Port Authority.
The approved measures now head to the Legislature for consideration during the 2026 Session. If lawmakers sign off on the Superintendent and County Commission charter reform proposals, Hillsborough voters will decide whether to adopt the changes in 2026.
Only two votes saw dissent, both from House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, who opposed the Superintendent and charter reform bills. Sen. Darryl Rouson and Reps. Linda Chaney, Dianne Hart and Michele Rayner were absent from the meeting.
The Superintendent bill, sponsored by Rep. Michael Owen, would move the job from a School Board appointment to a partisan elected office if the Legislature and voters approve it.
In comments to Florida Politics earlier this week, Owen argued the change would increase accountability to parents and bring Hillsborough in line with most Florida counties that already elect their Superintendents. Democrats on the delegation sharply pushed back. Driskell said this week that there is “no public appetite” for politicizing the district’s top job and warned the change could invite Tallahassee influence.
Rayner, who was absent Wednesday, has previously called the effort a partisan attempt to consolidate control by building “on the fact that Hillsborough County has gone red in the last few years and to ensure that they have someone of their ilk in this position.”
The delegation also approved Owen’s charter reform bill to expand the County Commission to nine single-member districts and establish eight-year term limits. Driskell again cast the lone “no” vote. Owen said this week that the county has outgrown its current structure, noting it is approaching 1.5 million residents — more than 11 states — and that countywide Commissioners represent far more people than members of Congress.
Owen said single-member districts would give residents closer access to their Commissioners and help suburban and rural communities elect candidates from their areas rather than rely on countywide races dominated by Tampa’s voting base.
“When you have a County Commissioner representing double the average of Congress, that’s not government closest to the people,” Owen previously told Florida Politics.
Lawmakers unanimously backed creation of a Land Reserve Stewardship District, an independent special district responsible for long-term planning, development and infrastructure management. The only proposal that did not advance was Rep. Susan Valdés’ bill to repeal the County Commission’s authority to levy ad valorem taxes on behalf of the Tampa Port Authority. Valdés moved to table it and the delegation agreed.