The law specifies administrative approval but does not detail the specific steps or timeline for that process beyond the requirement itself.
Historic Cemeteries Program
This law requires local governments to approve land use changes for historic African-American cemeteries that sell excess vacant land specifically to fund their long-term maintenance.
What This Bill Does
Requires counties or cities to administratively approve applications from qualifying cemeteries to change zoning and land use categories.
Allows the sale of excess vacant land only if the money is used for the cemetery's long-term maintenance and upkeep.
Mandates that new development on sold land must be consistent and compatible with adjacent land uses.
Gives local governments reasonable discretion in picking specific zoning rules, as long as they fit the surrounding area.
Who It Names or Affects
Historic African-American cemeteries recorded in the Florida Master Site File that have excess vacant land.
County and city officials who handle administrative approvals for zoning and land use applications.
Terms To Know
Florida Master Site File
The official state list where historic African-American cemeteries must be recorded to qualify under this law.
Excess vacant land
Land owned by the cemetery that is available for sale or contract, provided the funds support long-term maintenance.
Limits and Unknowns
The law only applies to cemeteries recorded in the Florida Master Site File.
Local governments have reasonable discretion but must ensure new uses are compatible with neighbors.
The text does not specify how much land can be sold or set a price for it.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: This amendment allows local governments to change the rules for historic cemetery land so it can be developed if that new use fits well with nearby properties.
Local counties or cities may now change how historic cemetery land is zoned or used.
Any new development on this land must match and work well with what is already around it.
Officials are allowed to make reasonable decisions when choosing the new rules for these areas.
The text does not explain how much money might be involved or which specific cemeteries this applies to.
It is unclear what happens if neighbors disagree with a decision about changing land use.
Bill History
2026-05-22The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Chapter No. 2026-87
2026-05-21The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Approved by Governor
2026-05-06The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 780 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/12/26 -SJ 780
2026-03-05House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
2026-03-05Senate
• In Messages • Referred to Rules • Received
2026-03-02House
• Reported out of Commerce Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • Bill referred to House Calendar • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026) • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2026-02-26House
• Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee
2026-02-24House
• Added to Commerce Committee agenda
2026-02-20House
• Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Commerce Committee
2026-02-19House
• Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2026-02-18House
• Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2026-02-16House
• PCS added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
2026-01-13House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-11-24House
• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2025-11-14House
• Filed
Official Summary Text
Historic Cemeteries Program; Requires local governments to approve applications from historic African-American cemeteries to change land use category & zoning district of excess vacant land under certain conditions to allow development consistent & compatible with adjacent land uses.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 425 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb425 -02-er
Page 1 of 2
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
1
An act relating to the Historic Cemeteries Program; 2
amending s. 267.21, F.S.; requiring local governments 3
to approve applications from historic African-American 4
cemeteries to change the land use category and zoning 5
district of excess vacant land under certain 6
conditions to allow development consistent and 7
compatible with adjacent land uses; providing an 8
effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 267.21, Florida 13
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (4), and a new subsection 14
(3) is added to that section, to read: 15
267.21 Historic Cemeteries Program.— 16
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a 17
historic African-American cemetery recorded in the Florida 18
Master Site File pursuant to this section with excess vacant 19
land sells or enters into a contract to sell such land for the 20
express purpose of funding the cemetery's long-term maintenance 21
and upkeep, the county or municipality where such cemetery is 22
located must administratively approve an application to rezone 23
or change the land use designation of such land to allow 24
development consistent and compatible with adjacent land uses. A 25
ENROLLED
CS/CS/HB 425 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb425 -02-er
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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
county or municipality may use reasonable discretion in 26
determining the new zoning or land use designation, provided 27
that the zoning or land use designation is consistent and 28
compatible with the surrounding area. 29
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 30