Florida HB 1243: Florida Museum of Black History

Bill Text

HB 1243 2025

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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 Florida Museum of Black 2
History; amending s. 267.0722, F.S.; specifying 3
functions and activities of the Florida Museum of 4
Black History; providing for legislative designation 5
of the permanent and temporary locations of the 6
museum; requiring a specified nonprofit organization 7
to create the exhibits for the temporary museum; 8
establishing a governing board for certain purposes; 9
providing requirements for the governing board; 10
requiring the governing board to submit a written 11
report to the Governor and Legislature by a specified 12
date; requiring the Department of State to provide 13
certain support; removing obsolete provisions; 14
providing appropriations; providing an effective date. 15
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
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Section 1. Section 267.0722, Florida Statutes, is amended 19
to read: 20
267.0722 Florida Museum of Black History.— 21
(1) There is created within the division the Florida 22
Museum of Black History. The museum, once constructed, shall be 23
a multipurpose facility capable of generating revenues to offset 24
operating costs and expenses, with archival research and storage 25

HB 1243 2025

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facilities, meeting rooms, full-service banquet facilities, and 26
a locally funded performing arts theater. 27
(2) Based on the report delivered by the Florida Museum of 28
Black History governing board to the Governor, the President of 29
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 30
Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the 31
House of Representatives, the Legislature: 32
(a) Determines that the City of Opa-locka shall be the 33
permanent location of the Florida Museum of Black History. 34
(b) Designates the Opa-locka Historic City Hall and Fire 35
Station as the interim location for a temporary museum. 36
(c) Designates the Ten North Group, a nonprofit 37
organization located in Opa-locka, as the entity responsible for 38
creating exhibits at the temporary museum. 39
(3)(a) A governing board is established to oversee the 40
predevelopment activities and the development and governance of 41
the museum. The governing board shall consist of no more than 25 42
members, appointed by July 31, 2025, as follows: 43
1. Two members appointed by the Executive Office of the 44
Governor. 45
2. Two members appointed by the President of the Senate. 46
3. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 47
Representatives. 48
4. Two members appointed by the Mayor of Miami-Dade 49
County. 50

HB 1243 2025

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5. Two members appointed by the chair of the Miami-Dade 51
County Commission. 52
6. Two members appointed by a member of the Miami-Dade 53
County Commission, District 1. 54
7. Six members appointed by a majority vote of the Mayor 55
of the City of Opa-locka and the Opa-locka City Commission. 56
8. No more than seven members appointed by a majority vote 57
of the governing board members. At least three of these members 58
must have 5 or more years of experience as academic scholars in 59
Black studies or African-American history. 60
(b) Members of the governing board shall serve for a term 61
of 3 years or until replaced. 62
(c) Members of the governing board shall serve without 63
compensation but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per 64
diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. 65
(d) The governing board must hold its first meeting by 66
October 1, 2025. 67
(e) In conducting the predevelopment activities, the 68
governing board must conduct site visits and guide the design 69
and planning phases with a focus on conceptual design, 70
regulatory compliance, and community engagement. Additionally, 71
the governing board may take an active role in securing 72
necessary funding and financing, approving detailed financial 73
models, establishing strategic partnerships, and coordinating 74
the procurement of contractors and resources to ensure that the 75

HB 1243 2025

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museum can seamlessly transition into the construction phase. 76
(f) By March 1, 2026, the governing board shall submit a 77
written report detailing its plans for constructing the 78
permanent museum to the Governor, the President of the Senate, 79
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 80
(4)(a) The Department of State shall provide support, 81
including administrative support, to