Florida lawmakers unanimously approved legislation that would create a formal process for recalling elected members of community development district boards, sending the measure to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration after it passed both chambers.
The bill, if signed by the governor, would establish a legal framework allowing residents to seek the removal of elected community development district, or CDD, board members when concerns arise over financial management, governance practices or compliance with state oversight requirements.
Community development districts are special-purpose local governments often used to finance and manage infrastructure and services in residential developments.
The proposal, CS/CS/SB 1180, is sponsored by Sen. Kristen Arrington, and Rep. Jose Alvarez.
Lawmakers said that the legislation was prompted by concerns raised in Concorde Estates, a CDD in Osceola County, where a sitting board member has remained in a financial oversight role while under audit by the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.
“Residents should not be left without recourse when issues of governance and financial oversight emerge within their communities,” said Sen. Arrington. “This legislation provides a transparent and structured process to hold elected CDD board members accountable while maintaining the integrity of local decision-making bodies.”
If signed into law, the measure would apply more broadly across Florida’s community development districts, creating a formal avenue for recall efforts and, according to its sponsors, modernizing governance practices for those entities.
