FloridaLee County council uses an eleven-member tourism board structure
The act provides an eleven-member Lee County tourist council, including three elected municipal officials and seven tourism-industry members, with a limited term exception.
What it does
The council is to have 11 members, including three elected municipal officials and seven tourism-industry members; three to five industry members must run tax-paying lodging businesses.
Existing council terms generally continue, but the act makes an exception for two municipal members appointed on July 1, 2013.
Argument forA larger council with more municipal and tourism-industry members could give local communities and tourism businesses broader representation.
Argument againstChanging the council structure could disrupt the service of the two municipal members covered by the exception to continued terms.
More detail
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners appoints 11 members to the tourist council. The council includes the county commission chair or a designee, three elected municipal officials, and seven people involved in the tourism industry. All members must be Lee County electors. The tourism-industry members must show an interest in tourism development. At least three and no more than five tourism-industry members must own or operate county lodging businesses subject to the tourist tax. Municipal seats include representatives from the most populous municipality and municipalities with the highest recent tourist-tax revenues, with rotation rules described in the act. The act states that the council composition applies July 1, 2026. The act itself takes effect when it becomes law.
Current council members generally keep serving through their current terms, but two municipal members are excepted. The exception applies to the two municipal members appointed on July 1, 2013. The stated protection against interrupting current terms does not apply to those two municipal members. This term rule applies when the composition provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Chapter No. 2026-205Latest
- Jun 8Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- May 27Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Local Bills, Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11In Messages
- Mar 11CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 9Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
- Feb 26ReceivedMinor
- Feb 25Referred to RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25In Messages
- Feb 25CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 10Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 10Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 10Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Jan 29Now in State Affairs Committee
- Jan 29Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 281st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28CS FiledMinor
- Jan 28Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 28Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- 2025
- Dec 29FiledIntroduced
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