This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1103e.SAC
DATE: 2/21/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LOCAL BILL STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1103 North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District, Manatee County
SPONSOR(S): Gregory
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Local Administration & Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee
16 Y, 0 N Darden Miller
2) Ways & Means Committee 18 Y, 0 N Berg Aldridge
3) State Affairs Committee 21 Y, 0 N Darden Williamson
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
North River Ranch Stewardship District (District) is an independent special district in Manatee County created
in 2020. The District provides community development systems, facilities, services, projects, improvements,
and infrastructure to the area. The District is governed by a five-member board of supervisors who are elected
on a one vote per acre basis. The District is authorized to impose ad valorem taxes and may levy user charges
and fees, non-ad valorem maintenance taxes as authorized by general law, maintenance special assessments,
and benefit special assessments. However, ad valorem taxes may be imposed only after all members of the
board are elected on a popular vote basis and the levy of ad valorem taxes is approved by the district voters in
a subsequent referendum.
The bill removes approximately 11 acres from the District’s jurisdictional boundaries, reducing the total acreage
from 2,012 acres to 2,001 acres.
The Economic Impact Statement filed with the bill indicates that there are no substantive fiscal impacts of the
bill.
STORAGE NAME: h1103e.SAC PAGE: 2
DATE: 2/21/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Special Districts
A “special district” is a unit of local government created for a particular purpose, with jurisdiction to
operate within a limited geographic boundary.
1
A special district may be created by general law, special
act, local ordinance, or rule of the Governor and Cabinet.
2
A special district has only those powers
expressly provided by, or reasonably implied from, the authority provided in the district’s charter.
3
Special districts provide specific municipal services in addition to, or in place of, those provided by a
municipality or county.
4
A “dependent special district” is a special district in which the membership of the governing body is
identical to the governing body of a single county or municipality, all members of the governing body
are appointed by the governing body of a single county or municipality, members of the district’s
governing body are removable at will by the governing body of a single county or municipality, or the
district’s budget is subject to the approval of governing body of a single county or municipality.
5
An
“independent special district” is any district that is not a dependent special district or one that includes
more than one county unless the district lies wholly within a single municipality.
6
Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District
North River Ranch Stewardship District (District) is an independent special district created in 2020 by
special act.
7
The District covers land in Manatee County and its purpose is to provide for a
comprehensive community development approach that facilitates an integral relationship among
regional transportation, land use, and urban design, creating a diverse mix of housing and regional
employment and economic development opportunities, rather than fragmented development with
underutilized infrastructure which is generally associated with urban sprawl.
8
The District is authorized
to provide these services extraterritorially upon execution of an interlocal agreement.
9
The District is
governed by a five-member board of supervisors elected to serve four-year terms either by the
landowners or qualified electors residing in the District.
10
The District is authorized to impose ad valorem taxes and may levy user charges and fees, non-ad
valorem maintenance taxes as authorized by general law, maintenance special assessments, and
1
S. 189.012(6), F.S. The Legislature adopted ch. 189, F.S., in 1989 to provide uniform statutes for the definition, creation, and
operation of special districts. See s. 189.011(1), F.S.
2
S. 189.012(6), F.S.
3
See ss. 189.02(4)-(5) and 189.031(3), F.S. Counties and municipalities have “home rule” powers allowing them to enact ordinances
not inconsistent with general or special law for governmental, corporate, or proprietary purposes. Special districts do not possess home
rule powers and are permitted to impose only those taxes, assessments, or fees authorized by special or general law. See art. VIII, ss.
1(f) and (g), 2(b), s. 6(e), Fla. Const. and ss. 166.021 and 125.01, F.S. See also 2021 – 2022 Local Gov’t Formation Manual, p. 70, at
https://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?CommitteeId=3117 (last visited Jan. 13, 2022) (hereinafter
Local Government Manual).
4
Local Government Manual at 64.
5
S. 189.012(2), F.S.
6
S. 189.012(3), F.S. Independent special districts are created by the Legislature unless otherwise authorized by general law. The
charter of a newly-created district must meet minimum statutory requirements which includes a statement that it is an independent
special district.
7
Ch. 2020-191, Laws of Fla.
8
Ch. 2020-191, s. 1(2)(1)(b), Laws of Fla.
9
Ch. 2020-191, s. 1(3)(4), Laws of Fla.
10
Ch. 2020-191, s. 1(5), Laws of Fla. As qualified electors move into the District, more members are chosen in an election of the
qualified electorate rather than a landowners’ meeting. Once 15,000 qualified electors reside within the District, all five members will be
elected by the qualified electorate. Ch. 2020-191, s.1(5)(3)(a)2.a(IV), Laws of Fla. STORAGE NAME: h1103e.SAC PAGE: 3
DATE: 2/21/2022
benefit special assessments.
11
However, ad valorem taxes may be imposed only after all members of
the board are elected on a popular vote basis and the levy of ad valorem taxes is approved by the
district voters in a subsequent referendum.
12
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill removes approximately 11 acres from the District’s jurisdictional boundaries, reducing the total
acreage from 2,012 acres to 2,001 acres.
The Economic Impact Statement filed with the bill indicates that there are no substantive fiscal impacts
of the bill.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends ch. 2020-191, Laws of Fla., to remove approximately 11 acres from the North
River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District, Manatee County.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of upon becoming a law.
II. NOTICE/REFERENDUM AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A. NOTICE PUBLISHED? Yes [x] No []
IF YES, WHEN? November 5, 2021
WHERE? The Bradenton Herald, a daily newspaper of general circulation published in
Manatee County, Florida.
B. REFERENDUM(S) REQUIRED? Yes [] No [x]
IF YES, WHEN?
C. LOCAL BILL CERTIFICATION FILED? Yes [x] No []
D. ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT FILED? Yes [x] No []
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill does not provide rulemaking authority or require executive branch rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
None.
11
Ch. 2020-191, s. 1(6)(12), Laws of Fla. The District currently does not levy ad valorem taxes. The District may only levy ad valorem
taxes subject to approval at a referendum held after the complete transition of the District’s board to election by the qualified electors of
the District.
12
Ch. 2020-191, ss. (1)(5)(3)(a)1. and (1)(6)(12)(a), Laws of Fla. STORAGE NAME: h1103e.SAC PAGE: 4
DATE: 2/21/2022