Florida school board residency requirements eyed in Senate

CBS MIAMI | By CBS Miami Team | January 31, 2023

TALLAHASSEE – A Senate Republican has filed a measure that would change a residency requirement for school-board candidates.

Under current law, candidates have to live in the districts they are seeking to represent at the time they qualify to run.

On Monday, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, filed a bill that would revise the requirement so they would have to live in the districts at the time they assume office. The proposal is filed for the legislative session that will start in March.

The bill is one of multiple proposals that Republican lawmakers are considering to change laws about school boards. 

Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers, and Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, have filed identical proposals that seek to turn school-board elections into partisan races. If approved by the Legislature, the proposed change would go before voters in 2024 because it would require a constitutional amendment.

Meanwhile, Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, has filed a proposal that would create eight-year term limits for school board members. That would be a reduction from the 12-year term limits approved by lawmakers last year.