HB0525 • 2026

Florida Museum of Black History

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Michael
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Government Operations Subcommittee
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Florida Museum of Black History Act

This bill establishes a board to oversee the planning and operation of the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County.

What This Bill Does

Creates a Board of Directors for the Florida Museum of Black History.
Sets rules for who can be on the board, including appointments by government officials.
Requires that members appointed by certain officials cannot hold other elected positions while serving on the board.
Specifies that the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners must provide support and staff to the museum's board until planning is complete.

Who It Names or Affects

The Florida Museum of Black History
Members of the Florida Legislature who appoint board members
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners

Terms To Know

Board of Directors: A group of people chosen to make decisions and oversee an organization.
Ex officio: Members who automatically belong to a board because of their other positions, like being a senator or representative.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens after the initial planning and support period ends.
It is unclear how much funding will be provided for the museum's operations.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Government Operations Subcommittee
2026-01-13 House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-12-03 House
• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to Budget Committee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
2025-11-24 House
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Florida Museum of Black History; Establishes Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors; provides for membership of board; requires that appointments to board be made by specified date; prohibits specified members of board from holding state or local elective office while serving on board; provides for filling of vacancies; requires that board work jointly with Foundation for Museum of Black History, Inc.; requires St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners to provide administrative support & staffing to board until specified actions are completed.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 525 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb525-00
Page 1 of 3
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

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Florida Museum of Black 2
History; creating s. 267.07221, F.S.; providing 3
legislative intent; establishing the Florida Museum of 4
Black History Board of Directors; providing for the 5
membership of the board; requiring that appointments 6
to the board be made by a specified date; prohibiting 7
specified members of the board from holding state or 8
local elective office while serving on the board; 9
providing for the filling of vacancies; requiring that 10
the board work jointly with the Foundation for the 11
Museum of Black History, Inc.; requiring the St. Johns 12
County Board of County Commissioners to provide 13
administrative support and staffing to the board until 14
specified actions are completed; providing an 15
effective date. 16
17
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18
19
Section 1. Section 267.07221, Florida Statutes, is created 20
to read: 21
267.07221 Florida Museum of Black History Board of 22
Directors.— 23
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the 24
work of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force in 25

HB 525 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb525-00
Page 2 of 3
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

selecting a location for the Florida Museum of Black History and 26
designating St. Johns County as the site for the museum. It is 27
further the intent of the Legislature, under the authority 28
provided in s. 267.0722(7), to establish a board of directors to 29
oversee the commission, construction, operation, and 30
administration of the museum. 31
(2)(a) The Florida Museum of Black History Board of 32
Directors is established within the division and shall be 33
composed of the following members: 34
1. Three individuals appointed by the Governor, one of 35
whom shall serve as chair. 36
2. Three individuals appointed by the President of the 37
Senate. 38
3. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President 39
of the Senate and serving ex officio. 40
4. Three individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House 41
of Representatives. 42
5. Two member of the House of Representatives, appointed 43
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and serving ex 44
officio. 45
(b) Appointments must be made no later than July 31, 2026. 46
Members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (a)1., 2., and 4. 47
may not hold any state or local elective office while serving on 48
the board. Vacancies on the board must be filled in the same 49
manner as the initial appointments. 50

HB 525 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb525-00
Page 3 of 3
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

(3) The board shall work jointly with the Foundation for 51
the Museum of Black History, Inc., a nonprofit organization 52
created to support the creation of the museum. 53
(4) The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners 54
shall provide administrative assistance and staffing to the 55
board until the project planning, design, and engineering are 56
completed. 57
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 58