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HB 4071FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Ordered enrolled
High Impact

New Rules for Fire and Emergency Services After Annexation in Palm Beach County

Original title: Palm Beach County

January 7, 2026

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently Ordered enrolled. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Procedural history

31 actions
  1. Feb 26, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Received
  2. Feb 25, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Rules
  3. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    In Messages
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    CS passed as amended; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
  5. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 3rd time
  6. Feb 25, 2026House
    Added to Third Reading Calendar
Show 25 earlier actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026House
    Amendment 830687 adopted
  2. Feb 25, 2026HouseFloor
    Read 2nd time
  3. Feb 19, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
  4. Feb 11, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  5. Feb 11, 2026House
    Bill referred to House Calendar
  6. Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  7. Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroduced
    CS Filed
  8. Feb 10, 2026House
    Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  9. Feb 10, 2026House
    Reported out of State Affairs Committee
  10. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
  11. Feb 6, 2026House
    Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
  12. Feb 2, 2026House
    Now in State Affairs Committee
  13. Feb 2, 2026House
    Reported out of Ways & Means Committee
  14. Feb 2, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Ways & Means Committee
  15. Jan 29, 2026House
    Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
  16. Jan 28, 2026House
    Now in Ways & Means Committee
  17. Jan 28, 2026House
    Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  18. Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  19. Jan 26, 2026House
    Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
  20. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  21. Jan 12, 2026House
    Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  22. Jan 12, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  23. Jan 12, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Ways & Means Committee
  24. Jan 12, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
  25. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

Property owners in newly annexed areas will see a six-year delay before their fire and emergency services transition from county to municipal control, during which time their municipality must pay the county for service costs.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Palm Beach County residents in unincorporated areas

Their fire and emergency service provider may change if their area is annexed into a municipality.

Municipalities in Palm Beach County

They must pay the county for fire and emergency services for up to six years following the annexation of new property.

What changed

Current stage: Ordered enrolled.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill establishes a six-year transition period for fire and emergency medical services when land is annexed into a municipality in Palm Beach County. During this time, the county continues to provide services and collect impact fees, while the annexing municipality must pay the county for the actual cost of those services.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill apply to all annexations in Palm Beach County?
No, it does not apply to annexed s of 10 acres or less.
Who pays for fire services during the six-year transition?
The annexing municipality is required to pay the county an annual service price based on the actual cost of providing the services.
Can the six-year transition period be changed?
Yes, the county and the municipality can agree to shorten or lengthen the term through a written supported by objective data.

Why It Matters

Property owners in newly annexed areas will see a six-year delay before their fire and emergency services transition from county to municipal control, during which time their municipality must pay the county for service costs.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

on behalf of Villages of Hope of Palm Beach County Inc.

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Villages of Hope of Palm Beach County Inc.

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Economic Council of Palm Beach County

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Economic Council of Palm Beach County

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Lee County Board of County Commissioners

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Lee County Board of County Commissioners

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Martin County

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Martin County

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

on behalf of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

2026

Senate LDAView filing →

Voting Record

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Mandatory Transition Period

The bill shifts from a potentially immediate transfer of services upon annexation to a mandatory six-year county-led transition period, unless otherwise agreed upon.

Connected Entities

dollar_amount830687This amendment was adopted.Map →
organizationIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeThe bill was referred to this subcommittee.Map →
date2026-02-25The bill was passed on this date.Map →
organizationState Affairs CommitteeThe bill was referred to this committee.Map →
locationPalm Beach CountyThe bill is related to this county.Map →
dollar_amount7.18The bill was laid on the table under this rule.Map →
date2026-01-07The bill was filed on this date.Map →
dollar_amount116The bill was passed with this many yeas.Map →
organizationWays & Means CommitteeThe bill was referred to this committee.Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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