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FloridaHB 40592025HouseWALLET

Sunbridge Stewardship District, Osceola County

Sponsored By: Erika Booth (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeWays & Means CommitteeState Affairs CommitteeRules

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Sunbridge voters gain board seats as population grows

Qualified district voters replace landowners as the voters choosing board seats as the district grows. At 12,475, 22,475, 32,475, 42,475, and 47,000 qualified voters, they elect one, two, three, four, and five seats, respectively. Each change follows the first general election after the threshold is reached. All five seats also become voter-elected when at least 30,000 residential units are complete, even below 47,000 voters. Qualified voters must be at least 18, U.S. citizens, and legal residents of Florida and the district. They must register in Osceola or Orange County and live in Osceola County or Orlando.

Sunbridge property taxes require voter approval

The district cannot use its property-tax power until all five supervisors are qualified voters elected by qualified district voters. Its property-tax authority also needs express approval from a majority of qualified voters voting in a district referendum. That referendum must occur when the board is fully voter-elected. The law sets no property-tax rate or household tax amount. These safeguards apply to property-value taxes, not the district's separate assessment and fee powers.

District changes require affected local approvals

Before seeking certain legislative changes, the district board must obtain required local resolutions or official statements. Covered changes include expanding or shrinking boundaries, merging, or ending the district. When a boundary or special-power change affects only one jurisdiction, only that jurisdiction's approval is required. Orange County's approval role concerns the purposes of territorial agreements in place at that time.

Sunbridge landowners face assessments and maintenance charges

The district can levy special assessments for authorized improvements and pay county or city assessments on district land. Improvement assessments require engineering reports, a benefit-based payment formula, public notices, hearings, and a final assessment list. Assessments cannot exceed the property's measurable special benefits and must be fairly divided. Installments can run up to 40 years, with fixed or variable interest; prepayment formulas and early financing-cost discounts are allowed. Assessments can be certified by August 31, and delinquency can accelerate prepayment obligations. After facilities are complete, annual non-property-value maintenance taxes can be based on original construction benefits and certified by June 1. Assessments and maintenance taxes become property liens with the same standing as property taxes, with delinquency enforcement. The law sets no household charge amount.

District service fees face public safeguards

The district can charge rates, fees, rentals, and other charges for its facilities and services. Before adopting charges, it must hold a public hearing with newspaper notice in both counties at least 10 days earlier. It can extend an existing customer-class rate to more users in that class without another hearing. Orange County keeps its water, wastewater, and reclaimed-water authority under its territorial agreements and alone sets rates and collects revenue there. The law excludes district leases and covered water-service areas from the specified district charges; it sets no household rate.

Sunbridge district covers land across two counties

The law establishes the Sunbridge Stewardship District over about 26,870 acres in Osceola and Orange Counties. Its boundaries include specified Orange County parcels, including Parcels 4–8, while excluding H.C. Kelly Road and specified roadway portions and parcels. The district can provide infrastructure and services, and landowners face possible district assessments and charges. It has no planning, zoning, or development-permitting power. It must follow applicable Osceola County or Orlando land-use plans, development rules, and Orange County territorial agreements.

District can fund projects with debt

Agreements with Osceola County, Orange County, or Orlando can fund a fair share of facilities developers are required to provide. The district can issue general obligation bonds up to 35% of assessed taxable property value, subject to constitutional election requirements. Certain bonds backed only by assessments or specified revenues can be excluded from that cap. The district pays bond-election costs. District debt cannot burden local general-purpose governments, Orlando, Orange County, or the Tohopekaliga Water Authority without the affected entity's consent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Erika Booth

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 115 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2025-245

    7/8/2025

  2. Approved by Governor

    6/24/2025

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    6/18/2025

  4. Ordered enrolled

    4/30/2025House

  5. In Messages

    4/30/2025House

  6. Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 741

    4/30/2025Senate

  7. Read 3rd time -SJ 741

    4/30/2025Senate

  8. Read 2nd time -SJ 740

    4/30/2025Senate

  9. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading -SJ 736

    4/30/2025Senate

  10. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 736

    4/30/2025Senate

  11. Received

    4/22/2025Senate

  12. Referred to Rules

    4/16/2025Senate

  13. In Messages

    4/16/2025Senate

  14. Passed; YEAS 115, NAYS 0

    4/16/2025House

  15. Read 3rd time

    4/16/2025House

  16. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    4/16/2025House

  17. Placed on 3rd reading

    4/16/2025House

  18. Read 2nd time

    4/16/2025House

  19. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/16/2025)

    4/10/2025House

  20. Added to Second Reading Calendar

    4/2/2025House

  21. Bill released to House Calendar

    4/2/2025House

  22. Reported out of State Affairs Committee

    4/2/2025House

  23. Favorable by State Affairs Committee

    4/2/2025House

  24. Added to State Affairs Committee agenda

    3/31/2025House

  25. Now in State Affairs Committee

    3/27/2025House

Bill Text

  • er

    7/8/2025

    PDF

  • Filed

    2/27/2025

    PDF

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