Florida HB 1559: Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami-Dade County

Bill Text

HB 1559 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1559-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami-2
Dade County; providing legislative intent; requiring 3
Miami-Dade County to transfer the existing property 4
interest in the Coconut Grove Playhouse to the Town of 5
Bay Harbor Islands; providing duties of the town; 6
providing an effective date. 7
8
WHEREAS, the Coconut Grove Playhouse is a historic and 9
cultural landmark of the State of Florida, significant to Miami-10
Dade County and to the people of this state, and 11
WHEREAS, the State of Florida, through prior conveyance, 12
placed restrictive covenants and preservation obligations upon 13
the Coconut Grove Playhouse property, requiring its continued 14
use and protection for public, historic, and cultural purposes, 15
and 16
WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Protection has 17
issued directives to Miami-Dade County regarding the 18
preservation and stabilization of the playhouse property, and 19
WHEREAS, in a letter dated March 1, 2019, the Division of 20
Historical Resources of the Department of State found that the 21
county's plan to demolish the playhouse structure and restore 22
two exterior facades would be inappropriate and inconsistent 23
with state and federal preservation standards, warned that 24
demolition could lead to removal of the property from the 25

HB 1559 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1559-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

National Register of Historic Places, and, citing s. 26
267.061(2)(b), Florida Statutes, recommended that the county 27
evaluate feasible alternatives, and 28
WHEREAS, despite negative evaluations of its plans, Miami-29
Dade County has argued that its lease with this state excuses 30
compliance with directives from the Department of State and the 31
requirements of s. 267.061, Florida Statutes, an argument made 32
in bad faith since the playhouse is owned by this state, and 33
state law obligations cannot be contracted away, and 34
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has failed to comply with state 35
directives, has permitted deterioration of the property in 36
breach of its obligations, and has pursued redevelopment actions 37
inconsistent with the public trust and preservation covenants, 38
and 39
WHEREAS, millions of dollars in public funds have been 40
allocated toward preservation and stabilization of the 41
playhouse, yet Miami-Dade County has failed to prioritize or 42
execute such preservation and stabilization, and 43
WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Legislature to safeguard 44
historic assets of this state, uphold public trust, and ensure 45
that public covenants are honored, NOW, THEREFORE, 46
47
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 48
49
Section 1. The intent of this act is to: 50

HB 1559 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1559-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(1) Protect the historic and cultural value of the Coconut 51
Grove Playhouse, Miami-Dade County. 52
(2) Enforce accountability for the state-owned Coconut 53
Grove Playhouse by reassigning stewardship away from Miami-Dade 54
County through a transfer of the property interest to the Town 55
of Bay Harbor Islands, Miami-Dade County, a municipality that is 56
capable of honoring both the public trust and historic 57
preservation covenants. 58
Section 2. (1) On July 1, 2026, Miami-Dade County shall 59
transfer the existing property interest in the Coconut Grove 60
Playhouse, Miami-Dade County, to the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, 61
Miami-Dade County, for the purposes of historic preservation, 62
public use, and cultural benefit. 63
(2)(a) Upon receiving the existing property interest in 64
the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Town of Bay Harbor Islands 65
shall consult with the City of Miami, the Department of 66
Environmental Protection, and the Division of Historical 67
Resources of the Department of State on feasible and prudent 68
alternatives to the demolition or alteration of the playhouse, 69
as required under s. 267.061(2)(b), Florida Statutes, and on 70
every renovation it plans to perform to protect the historic and 71
cultural value of the property. 72
(b) The Town of Bay Harbor Islands shall, to the maximum 73
extent practicable, use public funds and other funds reserved 74
for the playhouse to: 75

HB 1559 2026

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hb1559-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

1. Comply with the directives of the Department of 76
Environmental Protection, including: 77
a. Taking preservation actions as a condition of state 78
ownership and oversight. 79
b. Preserving the historic facade, roofline, and 80
architectural integrity