The bill amends section 171.0413 of the Florida Statutes to establish new requirements for municipalities proposing to annex state-owned lands. Specifically, it mandates that municipalities must notify each member of the legislative delegation of the county in writing or by email when the advertisement for the first public hearing regarding the annexation is published. Additionally, the bill changes the language from "shall" to "must" in several instances to emphasize the mandatory nature of the requirements, including the need for public hearings and the holding of a referendum before the annexation ordinance becomes effective.

Furthermore, the bill reenacts sections 101.6102 and 171.042 to incorporate the amendments made to section 171.0413. These sections relate to mail ballot elections for municipal annexation referendums and outline prerequisites for annexation, including the preparation of a feasibility study by the municipality. The feasibility study must detail plans for providing urban services to the annexed area and must be filed with the county commissioners prior to commencing annexation procedures. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 275 Filed: 171.0413
H 275 c1: 171.0413