HB 1039 Summary

• Expands the Babcock Ranch Community Independent Special District to include areas of Lee County in addition to Charlotte County, consisting of approximately 17,787.84 total acres (13,630.64 acres in Charlotte County and 4,157.2 acres in Lee County).

• Requires governing board election procedures and general obligation bond elections to involve officials from both counties, and authorizes the levy and collection of non-ad valorem maintenance taxes in both counties.

• Establishes board composition transitions based on qualified elector population thresholds, beginning with landowner-elected members and gradually transitioning to elector-elected members as the district population grows.

• Requires all required notices and publications to be made in newspapers of general circulation in both Charlotte and Lee Counties.

• Takes effect upon approval by majority vote of landowners at a meeting held within 90 days of enactment, with ad valorem taxation and general obligation bond provisions requiring additional approval by qualified electors in a referendum election.