Florida HB 1375: Ad Valorem Taxation

Bill Text

HB 1375 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1375-00
Page 1 of 15
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 History; 2
authorizing the Department of State to partner with 3
certain county commissions and local entities for a 4
specified purpose; requiring each Florida Museum of 5
History to be owned, managed, and operated by a 6
certain entity; establishing the Florida Museum of 7
History Advisory Committee; providing membership and 8
duties of the committee; requiring each county 9
commission and local entity to create a Florida Museum 10
of History Board; providing for membership and duties 11
of the operating board; requiring that certain 12
entities develop and execute a marketing plan to 13
promote each Florida Museum of History; requiring 14
financial feasibility studies; providing for funding 15
from specific sources for certain purposes; providing 16
requirements for the Florida Museum of History; 17
providing an effective date. 18
19
WHEREAS, in 2023, the Legislature established the 20
Florida Museum of Black History Task Force to identify, 21
evaluate, and recommend potential locations for a leading 22
world-class museum dedicated to preserving, interpreting, 23
and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of 24
Black Floridians and Black Americans, and 25

HB 1375 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1375-00
Page 2 of 15
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

WHEREAS, the task force received applications from 26
multiple jurisdictions and, in April 2024, adopted 27
previously developed rankings that narrowed the field from 28
thirteen potential sites to three: Eatonville in Orange 29
County, St. Augustine in St. Johns County, and Opa-locka in 30
Miami-Dade County, and 31
WHEREAS, due to limited resources, incomplete data, 32
and a narrowing legislative deadline, the task force 33
reaffirmed these rankings without conducting new 34
feasibility, financial, or comparative analyses of the 35
three potential sites, and 36
WHEREAS, the task force voted on May 21, 2024, to 37
recommend St. Augustine in St. Johns County as the site for 38
the future Florida Museum of Black History, and 39
WHEREAS, on June 30, 2024, the Division of Historical 40
Resources, with input from the task force, issued a report 41
describing the recommendation as a preliminary roadmap and 42
requesting additional legislative funding to support 43
feasibility and economic impact studies for each of the 44
three top-ranked locations, and 45
WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that the task 46
force found no location with a clearly superior feasibility 47
or sustainability profile, underscoring the need for a 48
comprehensive, data-driven study before a final 49
designation, and 50

HB 1375 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1375-00
Page 3 of 15
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

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature that 51
comprehensive feasibility and economic impact studies be 52
completed and reviewed for the three top-ranked locations 53
in Orange County, St. Augustine in St. Johns County, and 54
Opa-locka in Miami-Dade County before any final site 55
designation, construction authorization, or allocation of 56
state funds, and 57
WHEREAS, these studies shall evaluate visitation 58
potential, infrastructure readiness, financial 59
sustainability, and the demonstrated capacity of each 60
locality to provide at least a 50 percent local funding 61
match through public, philanthropic, or private sources, 62
and 63
WHEREAS, a world-class museum is characterized by its 64
extraordinary collection of historical items and a 65
thoughtfully curated visitor experience, and 66
WHEREAS, these institutions serve as vital 67
repositories of our shared heritage, actively shaping our 68
understanding of the past, present, and future, and 69
WHEREAS, a world-class museum is not defined by a big 70
building or a famous name, but is an unparalleled 71
combination of an extraordinary and meticulously preserved 72
collection and an unforgettable, thoughtfully curated 73
visitor experience that transcends mere viewing, inviting 74
deep engagement and reflection, and 75

HB 1375 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1375-00
Page 4 of 15
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

WHEREAS, the Florida Museum of History is intended to 76
be more than a museum about slavery and the Civil Rights 77
Movement in America, and 78
WHEREAS, the Florida Museum of History is envisioned 79
as a unifying, cultural, and educational institution of 80
statewide significance, with the capacity to advance 81
understanding, unity, and economic opportunity for 82
residents and visitors alike, and 83
WHEREAS, establishing and sustaining the Florida 84
M