Lawmakers look to establish term limits for county commissioners

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers filed separate bills that would establish eight-year term limits for county commissioners.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, is carrying the bill in the Senate and Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, is carrying a similar bill in the House.

According to the Senate bill text, a person may not appear on the ballot for a different district seat of the county commission or an at-large county commission seat after an initial eight-year term of office until two years after the end date of the initial term.

In counties where county charters do not impose term limits as of July 1, 2024, commissioners that began their terms before Nov. 8, 2022, may be exempt from the bill’s term limitations.

Last session, lawmakers changed term limits for school board members to eight years.

Ingoglia attempted to include county commissioners in the previous term limits legislation, however, was unsuccessful. He previously said he would be filing a bill for it this coming session.

“People all over the United States believe term limits is great public policy. I do too,” Ingoglia said in a press release.

Ingoglia said this will ensure that government ideas “remain vibrant” by “giving the next generation of leaders a chance to shine.”

Salzman echoed similar views as Ingoglia and said term limits at all levels of government “have been favored for years.”

“Floridians want elected officials to be proactive,” Salzman said.

Salzman said she believes term limits “ensure fresh perspectives and accountability for our highest offices in the state, and we need that at the county level where seats can remain stagnant for decades.”

If passed, the legislation would take effect July 1, 2024.