This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h7003z1.EEG.docx
DATE: 5/16/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 7003 PCB EEG 23-02 OGSR/Water Management District Surplus Lands
SPONSOR(S): Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee, Griffitts
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 7004
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 113 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
HB 7003 passed the House on March 31, 2023, and subsequently passed the Senate on April 18, 2023.
The Open Government Sunset Review Act requires the Legislature to review each public record exemption
and each public meeting exemption five years after enactment. If the Legislature does not reenact the
exemption, it automatically repeals on October 2nd of the fifth year after enactment.
Water management districts (WMD) are responsible for the administration of water resources at a regional
level. There are five WMDs established within the state: Northwest Florida, South Florida, Southwest Florida,
St. Johns River, and Suwannee. The WMDs may acquire real property for water management and
conservation purposes. Unlike most state lands, these lands are held and conveyed in the name of the WMD,
not the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. A WMD may sell lands its governing board
determines to be surplus at any time. These lands must be sold at the highest price obtainable, but not less
than the appraised value of the land determined by a certified appraiser within 360 days of the sale.
Current law provides a public record exemption for written valuations of WMD land determined to be surplus,
related documents used to form, or which pertain to, the valuation as well as written offers to purchase such
surplus land. The exemption expires two weeks before the WMD first considers the contract or agreement
regarding the purchase, exchange, or disposal of the surplus land; however, a WMD is authorized to disclose
the information to potential purchasers before the expiration of the exemption to facilitate successful or
expedited closure of the sale of surplus land in certain instances.
The bill saves from repeal the public record exemption, which will repeal on October 2, 2023, if this bill does
not become law.
The bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact on state government or local governments.
The bill was approved by the Governor on May 11, 2023, ch. 2023-74, L.O.F., and will become effective on
October 1, 2023.
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DATE: 5/16/2023
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Background
Open Government Sunset Review Act
The Open Government Sunset Review Act (Act)
1
sets forth a legislative review process for newly
created or substantially amended public record or public meeting exemptions. It requires an automatic
repeal of the exemption on October 2nd of the fifth year after creation or substantial amendment,
unless the Legislature reenacts the exemption.
2
The Act provides that a public record or public meeting exemption may be created or maintained only if
it serves an identifiable public purpose. In addition, it may be no broader than is necessary to meet one
of the following purposes:
Allow the state or its political subdivisions to effectively and efficiently administer a
governmental program, which administration would be significantly impaired without the
exemption.
Protect sensitive personal information that, if released, would be defamatory or would
jeopardize an individual’s safety; however, only the identity of an individual may be exempted
under this provision.
Protect trade or business secrets.
3
If, and only if, in reenacting an exemption that will repeal, the exemption is expanded (essentially
creating a new exemption), then a public necessity statement and a two-thirds vote for passage are
required.
4
If the exemption is reenacted with grammatical or stylistic changes that do not expand the
exemption, if the exemption is narrowed, or if an exception to the exemption is created,
then a public
necessity statement and a two-thirds vote for passage are not required.
Water Management District Surplus Land
Water management districts (WMD) are responsible for the administration of water resources at a
regional level. There are five WMDs established within the state: Northwest Florida, South Florida,
Southwest Florida, St. Johns River, and Suwannee.
5
The WMDs may acquire real property for flood
control; water storage; water management; conservation and protection of water resources; aquifer
recharge; water resource and water supply development; and preservation of wetlands, streams, and
lakes.
6
Unlike most state lands, these lands are held and conveyed in the name of the WMD, not the
Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
7
The following is a breakdown of the land in
acres owned by each WMD:
Northwest Florida – 210,940.
South Florida – 828,010.
Southwest Florida – 341,870.
St. Johns River – 622,150.
Suwannee River – 159.850.
8
1
Section 119.15, F.S.
2
Section 119.15(3), F.S.
3
Section 119.15(6)(b), F.S.
4
Article I, s. 24(c), FLA. CONST.
5
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management Districts, https://floridadep.gov/water-policy/water-
policy/content/water-management-districts (last visited December 2, 2022).
6
Section 373.139(2), F.S.
7
See Florida Department of Environmental Protection, FAQ: Disposition of State Lands and Facilities Annual Report,
https://floridadep.gov/lands/bureau-public-land-administration/content/faq-disposition-state-lands-and-facilities-
annual#:~:text=These%20public%20lands%20help%20ensure,of%20non%2Dconservation%20lands) (last visited December 2, 2022).
8
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, State of Florida Lands and Facilities Inventory Search,
https://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DslPi/stateLandDashboard.action (last visited December 2, 2022).
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A WMD may sell lands its governing board determines to be surplus at any time.
9
For lands acquired
for conservation purposes, the governing board must determine that the lands are no longer needed for
that purpose and may dispose of them by a two-thirds vote. For all other lands, the governing board
must determine that such lands are no longer needed and may dispose of them by majority vote.
10
These lands must be sold at the highest price obtainable, but not less than the appraised value of the
land determined by a certified appraiser within 360 days of the sale.
11
Such sales must be for cash or
upon terms and security approved by the governing board; however, a deed cannot be executed and
delivered until full payment is received.
12
The WMD must publish notice of its intent to sell the land on
its website and in a newspaper in the county where the land is located once each week for three
consecutive weeks.
13
The first notice of intent must be published at least 30 days, but not more than
360 days, before any sale and must include a description of the land to be sold.
14
Public Record Exemption under Review
In 2018, the Legislature created a public record exemption for written valuations of WMD land
determined to be surplus, related documents used to form, or which pertain to, the valuation, as well as
written offers to purchase such surplus land.
15
The information is confidential and exempt
16
from public
record requirements and expires two weeks before the WMD first considers the contract or agreement
regarding the purchase, exchange, or disposal of the surplus land. However, a WMD is authorized to
disclose the confidential and exempt information to potential purchasers to facilitate successful or
expedited closure of the sale of surplus land in the following circumstances:
During negotiations for the sale or exchange of the land;
During the marketing effort or bidding process associated with the sale, disposal, or exchange
of the land;
When the passage of time has made the conclusions of value invalid; or
When negotiations or marketing efforts concerning the land are concluded.
17
The 2018 public necessity statement
18
for the exemption provides that:
The public availability of such valuations, related documents, and written offers
can negatively impact the ability of water management districts to negotiate with
potential purchasers and potentially places water management districts at a
disadvantage in attempting to maximize the return on the sale of surplus land.
19
During the 2022 interim, subcommittee staff sent questionnaires to each WMD as part of its review
under the Open Government Sunset Review Act. WMD staff indicated they had not had any issues
9
Section 373.089(1), F.S.
10
Section 373.089(6), F.S.
11
Id.
12
Section 373.089(2), F.S.
13
Section 373.089(3), F.S.
14
Id.
15
Chapter 2018-158, L.O.F., codified as s. 373.089(1)(b), (c), and (d), F.S.
16
There is a difference between records the Legislature designates exempt from public record requirements and those the Legislature
deems confidential and exempt. A record classified as exempt from public disclosure may be disclosed under certain circumstances.
See WFTV, Inc. v. Sch. Bd. of Seminole, 874 So.2d 48, 53 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004), review denied 892 So.2d 1015 (Fla. 2004); City of
Rivera Beach v. Barfield, 642 So.2d 1135 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994); Williams v. City of Minneola, 575 So.2d 683, 687 (Fla. 5th DCA
1991). If the Legislature designates a record as confidential and exempt from public disclosure, such record may not be released by the
custodian of public records to anyone other than the persons or entities specifically designated in statute. See Op. Att’y Gen. Fla. 04-
09 (2004).
17
A similar public record exemption exists for written valuations of land owned by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement
Trust Fund determined to be surplus and related documents used to form the valuation or that pertain to the valuation. See s.
253.0341(8), F.S.
18
Article I, s. 24(c), FLA. CONST., requires each public record exemption to state with specificity the public necessity justifying the
exemption.
19
Chapter 2018-156, L.O.F.
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DATE: 5/16/2023
interpreting or applying the exemption and that they were unaware of the existence of any litigation
concerning the exemption. Further, WMD staff indicated they had not received any complaints
concerning the exemption. As such, each WMD recommended the exemption be reenacted as is.
20
Effect of the Bill
The bill removes the scheduled repeal date of the public record exemption, thereby maintaining the
public record exemption for written valuations of WMD land determined to be surplus, related
documents used to form, or which pertain to, the valuation, as well as written offers to purchase such
surplus land.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
20
Open Government Sunset Review Questionnaire, Florida Water Management Districts Sale of Surplus Land, responses on file with
the Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee.