Senate advances plan to reshape Hillsborough County Commission

Bill sponsor Rep. Michael Owen

TAMPA — The Florida Senate has approved legislation that could significantly restructure the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, sending a controversial proposal backed by state Rep. Michael Owen to the Governor’s desk.

The measure, House Bill 4029, would place a charter amendment before Hillsborough County voters in the November 2026 election. If a majority of voters say ‘yes’ to the amendment, all at-large seats on the Commission will be eliminated and the number of single-member seats will be expanded to nine. This will give the current Republican majority in Hillsborough the power to choose their own voters for the 2028 election. Notably, voters would have to make their vote without seeing the new district map they would be effectively approving.

The Senate approved the bill as part of a package of local measures on a unanimous vote after the House had already passed it earlier this session. If approved by voters, no commissioners would be elected countywide. Instead, all commissioners would represent individual geographic districts. The proposal also includes a provision that would expand the board again to 11 members if Hillsborough County’s population reaches 2.5 million in a future census.

Supporters argue the changes would improve representation by allowing commissioners to serve smaller constituencies. Critics, however, say eliminating countywide seats and redrawing district lines outside the normal post-census cycle amounts to a partisan power grab designed to reshape the political balance of the board.

Opponents warn the move could make the commission more susceptible to gerrymandering and reduce the ability of countywide voters to influence a majority of seats. Under the current system, each resident casts a vote in four commission races — one district seat and three countywide contests — while the proposed structure would limit all voters to choosing only a single commissioner.

The bill also revises voting thresholds for major county decisions and alters how members of the Charter Review Board are appointed, changes that would affect how the county government operates internally.

If signed by the Governor, as expected, the restructuring proposal will appear on the November 2026 ballot, giving Hillsborough County voters the final say on whether to adopt the changes. If approved, the transition would begin ahead of the 2028 election cycle.