CS/HB 1023 Summary

• Codifies and consolidates all special acts relating to the Canaveral Port District into a single comprehensive charter, repealing previous chapters 2003-335, 2004-472, 2005-320, 2008-288, and 2011-258 of Florida law.

• Establishes the Canaveral Port Authority as the governing body consisting of five Port Commissioners elected for 4-year terms from five Commissioner Port Districts, with term limits of three consecutive terms.

• Grants broad powers to the Port Authority including property acquisition, port facility construction and operation, revenue bond issuance (up to $7.5 million), franchise taxation (0.5% of gross receipts), and ad valorem tax assessment (up to 3 mills on the dollar).

• Requires a Charter Review Committee to be appointed every 10 years (starting January 2023) to conduct comprehensive studies and recommend amendments to the district charter.

• Establishes protections for commercial fishing operations requiring at least the same bulkhead space as used as of January 1, 2013, and mandates annual public hearings on the commercial fishing and recreational interests industries at the port.