House Advances Owen’s Mid-Decade Hillsborough Redistricting Plan

TAMPA — The Florida House of Representatives has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael Owen that would place sweeping changes to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners before voters. The changes, criticized as a partisan power grab, include a mid-decade redistricting and the elimination of countywide seats.

House Bill 4029 passed Wednesday on an 87–26 vote. The measure would ask Hillsborough voters in November 2026 whether to amend the county charter to expand the seven-member Commission to nine members, with a future increase to 11 if the county reaches 2.5 million residents. It would also convert all seats to single-member districts, eliminating the three countywide “at large” positions that currently allow voters across the county to weigh in on a majority of the board.

The bill revises district reapportionment requirements and voting thresholds for key county actions, including appointments and removals of the County Administrator, County Attorney and Internal Auditor, and for proposing charter amendments. The changes would take effect if approved by county voters in a referendum.

Owen, a Republican and former member of the Hillsborough County Commission, has been pushing this redistricting proposal for some time. The current bill comes amid broader Republican efforts at the state and local levels to pursue mid-decade redistricting. Critics argue such moves are intended to reshape political maps outside the legally-defined post-census cycle, which occurs every 10 years.

Democratic members of the Hillsborough delegation opposed the bill, citing cost concerns and questioning the need to expand the board. They also argued there has been no widespread public demand for restructuring the Commission.

If ultimately signed into law and approved by voters, the restructuring would begin phasing in ahead of the 2028 election cycle.