The House State Affairs Committee advanced a joint resolution 16-6 Tuesday to the chamber floor that would amend the Florida Constitution to institute eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school district board members.
Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia County) explained a strike-all to her joint resolution (HJR 679) to the committee.
The strike-all, which passed, keeps the eight-year term limit for county commissioners and school board members on the ballot but adjusts the term limit to allow county commissioners to serve for eight years, take a one-term break, and run again if they choose to do so.
Rep. Lindsay Cross (D-St. Petersburg) asked Rep. Salzman why the bill was necessary, given some counties, including hers in Pinellas, have already voted for 12-year term limits.
"This bill creates uniform term limits across the state for county commissioners, making it eight years across the board. This is just putting it on the ballot," Salzman said. "The voters of all of these counties are also free to advocate for or against this resolution and the voters can decide at the end what they will like. Will they like the state to be eight years across the board or would they not?"
Other Democrats preferred letting counties put a referendum on their ballot instead of a universal modification. Moreover, Democrats said the decision should be made by voters locally, arguing that what fits in one county might not work in another.
Rep. Meg Weinberger (R-Palm Beach Gardens) thanked Salzman for the bill.
"I completely support this bill. I feel like it truly shows how we are here to support the people, and it continues to give people a voice," Weinberger said.
Another Republican, Jeff Holcomb, said he worried some smaller counties would have a tough time keeping people in office. The Spring Hill representative ultimately was still up on the bill due to his support for term limits.
Under HJR 679, the term limit would apply to county commissioners starting on or after Nov. 3, 2026. A term limit for school district board members would start before Nov. 8, 2022.
Notably, a "joint resolution" is the only way by which the Florida Legislature can propose amendments to the Constitution.
Salzman referenced that 80% of voters want term limits in her closing remarks.
"Let's give this to the voters. Let them decide once and for all and be done with it. This is a simple ask. The voters want term limits. We are putting it on the ballot," Salzman said.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) is carrying the Senate version of the bill (SB 802). His bill has two committee stops remaining.
If fully passed, the resolution will be placed on the 2026 general election ballot for voter approval.
