Community Development Districts

Established a two-step petition process requiring an initial 10% signature threshold to verify the petition, followed by a second 15% signature threshold to trigger a recall election.

Mandated that board members removed by recall or who resign after a petition is filed are ineligible for reappointment to the board for two years.

Created a new section (s. 190.0071) defining specific terms like 'Clerk' and 'Subdistrict' to clarify jurisdiction and eligibility for signing petitions.

Specified seven distinct grounds for removing a board member, including malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform duties, and felony conviction.

Clarified that only electors from a specific subdistrict can recall a board member who represents only that subdistrict, while all district electors can recall an at-large member.

Set strict deadlines for the recall process, including filing petitions within 35 days of the first signature and holding the election within 30 to 90 days of certification.

Added an exemption stating that synthetic turf regulations do not apply to Community Development Districts when they are enforcing deed restrictions.

Added an exemption allowing community development districts to enforce deed restrictions on synthetic turf without violating state regulations.

Extended the recall procedures to apply to board members of the local board of supervisors elected by district.

Updated the definition of 'compact, urban, mixed-use district' to specify a maximum of 75 acres and new development entitlement requirements.

Changed the petition filing authority from the Department of Commerce to the local clerk and clarified the role of the supervisor of elections in verifying signatures.

Added a requirement for the recall committee to pay the supervisor of elections in advance for signature verification costs.

Established strict deadlines: 30 days to gather initial signatures, 35 days to file, and 60 days to gather secondary signatures after the defense period.

Clarified that members elected at large are subject to recall by all electors, while district-specific members can only be recalled by electors in that district.