Urge House Members to Oppose CS/HB 9 - Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs)
On Wednesday, April 17, the House of Representatives will consider CS/HB 9 ( LaMarca ), relating to CRAs. Please contact members of the House of Representatives and
urge them to OPPOSE CS/HB 9!
CS/HB 9 ( LaMarca ) will increase audit, ethics, reporting and accountability measures to CRAs. Of specific concerns to cities, CS/HB 9 would:

  • Require any new CRA created after October 1, 2019, be created by a county-wide referendum held during a primary election or general election by a 2/3 vote of the electorate (current law allows a CRA be created by a vote of a city or county commission).
  •  Provides for the phasing out of all existing CRAs by 2039, unless re-authorized by a 2/3 vote of the body that created the CRA.

For more information on this topic, access the Issue Brief .
Talking Points
  • We support legislation to improve the use of municipalities’ use of CRAs to effectively carry out redevelopment and community revitalization.
  • My city’s CRA is our community’s best tool for improving infrastructure, maximizing local resources and making long-lasting positive changes. 
  • This redevelopment tool is used by both Florida cities and counties of all sizes, from Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville to Madison and Apalachicola.
  • This financing system is successful because it provides specific public services without increasing or levying any new taxes. No state money is involved.This is local tax dollars being put to work locally.
  • CS/HB 9 phases out all CRAs by 2039 unless reauthorized by a 2/3 vote of the body that created the CRA. This provision is not needed and hurts the stability that investors need to relocate into a CRA.
  • CS/HB 9 requires any new CRA created after October 1, 2019, be created by a county-wide referendum receiving a 2/3 vote of the electorate. This is an extremely onerous provision that dilutes the voice of voters who live and work inside a proposed CRA whose local taxes fund the CRA. County residents outside of a municipal CRA boundary are not affected and do not fund activities inside the CRA and should not have a voice in the creation of a new CRA. 
  • CRAs may not levy or collect property taxes. Placing a 2/3 vote requirement on the creation or the continuation of an existing CRA should not apply because CRAs cannot enact new taxes or increase existing taxes.
Contact David Cruz at [email protected] or (850) 701-3676 with any questions.
Please contact House members ASAP and urge them to OPPOSE CS/HB 9!
Click here to download contact information for the full House of Representatives. You can also use the League’s Contact Your Legislator advocacy tool to email your legislators.
Watch Live on Wednesday
Please go to https://thefloridachannel.org/ and click on Live Streams t o watch the House in session on Wednesday, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Thank You for Your Advocacy Efforts!