TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida voters may have the opportunity to set term limits not only for state legislators, but also for county commissioners and school board members.
The biggest proposed? Eight years in office. But there is fiery debate about the efforts to put this issue into the 2026 poll.
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“We know that Americans want term limits at every level of government. We know that Floridians want term limits at every level of government,” state Sen. Michelle Zamman (R-Escambia County).
Duration restrictions are topics that are being discussed violently at the national, state and even local levels. Discussion on the issue continues at the State Capitol this year, with the latest legislation moving both rooms.
State Sen. Blaze Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) and representative Salzmann cooperated on term restrictions. Joint Resolution 679 and its Senate peers are seeking to set an eight-year term limit for all county commissioners and school board members. Voters can decide whether to vote for 2026.
Representative Salzman shared with the 8 on your side that this was her second attempt to get the bill over the finish line.
“Last year, I said the bill was an eight-year period limit and put it in the law. But the biggest argument I received from members was, “Can we put this on the ballot? Can we make this a constitutional amendment and vote as a Florida?” Salzman said.
This time, people on the move argue that this should be decided at the county level, not at the statewide vote.
“Around 80% of voters want term limits, and they want to set it for eight years. All we want is put it on the vote and let the questions answer,” Senator Ingoglier said.
But critics of the move argue that they hope that the decision will be made by the county.
“Where do we campaign in our district? Who decides to put us here? People in our district, not the whole state. The whole state didn’t vote to sit here because they don’t know me from Adam.”
But even with these debates, the bill sponsors say that no matter how you go back in the vote, the community will still speak out on the issue.
“The same people who voted for governor will vote for this. We’re saying that the governor doesn’t really represent the rural community because the governor is from Miami,” Senator Salzman said.
Salzman added that she will make adjustments to her language and allow people to come back after they take a break. And for the currently seated commissioners, they say that if they are on the governor’s desk beyond the finish line, they can serve eight more years beyond the enforcement of the law.
