Florida Senate Posts Descriptions of its Proposed Boundaries

The Florida Senate has posted on its website a 10-page outline describing proposed new boundary lines for each of the 40 Senate districts.

The House redistricting proposals are expected to be released Tuesday for congressional, House and Senate districts.

The Senate released only Senate and congressional drafts on Monday.

Senate Redistricting Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, had offered the House a plan to let each chamber oversee its own chamber's redistricting, with the members of the House and the Senate hammering out a compromise only among the congressional lines in the once-a-decade redistricting.

Below are descriptions of the proposed Senate districts with staff comments:

District 1

Preserves the core of an existing district that has long elected an African-American member to the Senate. The district connects communities in the northeastern part of the state from the St. Johns River basin to Interstate 95 between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville.

The committee heard testimony in Jacksonville that urged the maintenance of such a district in order to preserve minority voting opportunities in Northeast Florida. District 1 has a black voting-age population of 47.9 percent, comparable to that of the existing district. The Legislature received several submissions from the public that proposed districts of a similar configuration and demographic composition.

District 2

Links the rural communities of the Florida Panhandle in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Washington, Holmes, and Jackson counties, utilizing political and geographical boundaries for nearly the entire length of its perimeter. It follows the boundaries of the state on the western, northern, and eastern sides of the district. The districts southern boundary follows the Intercoastal Waterway, the Yellow River, Interstate 10, the eastern boundary of Bay County and the southern boundary of Jackson County, and the outer boundaries of Pensacola to the west and Lynn Haven to the east.

The committee heard testimony at the Pensacola, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach public hearings and at the Oct. 5 Senate Reapportionment Committee meeting that rural and agricultural interests in the north part of the Panhandle have different traditions and representational needs than the urban and tourism interests in the south. Additionally the committee heard testimony pointing out that commerce and communication flow east to west along the main transportation corridors of the region, Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 98, and not north to south. The Legislature received several submissions that proposed a similar orientation in the Panhandle.

District 3

Combines rural communities in North Florida and the Nature Coast. The plan makes extensive use of political boundaries, incorporating all of Citrus, Levy, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Suwannee, Columbia, Union, and Baker counties. In Marion County, the district uses Interstate 75 and the western boundary of Ocala as its western boundary. In addition, District 3 enables District 6 to the west and District 14 to the east to consist entirely of whole counties.

At the public hearing in Gainesville, members of the public supported keeping rural counties such as Gilchrist and Union separate from major metropolitan areas like Jacksonville. At its meeting on Oct. 18, the Senate Reapportionment Committee heard public support for keeping the Nature Coast
region largely intact. The testimony pointed out that Dixie and Levy counties and the rest of the region have a rural-industry focus quite different from urban areas like Gainesville. Plan SPUBS0143 contains a district similar to District 3.

District 4

Unites the coastal communities of the Florida Panhandle in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. Like District 2, District 4 uses political and geographical boundaries for nearly the entire length of its perimeter. It follows the boundaries of the state on its west, the eastern boundary of Bay County on its east, and the Gulf of Mexico on its south. The northern boundary of the district follows the Intercoastal Waterway, the Yellow River, Interstate 10, and the outer boundaries of Pensacola to the west and Lynn Haven to the east.

District 4 is supported by the same testimony as District 2. Its horizontal configuration recognizes the differences between the rural north and the urban south. District 4 honors the request of members of the public who called for representation that reflects their distinct communities.

District 5

Contains all of Nassau County and a portion of Duval County necessary to attain the population. The district is bound by Georgia on the west and north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and uses the Duval County line for most of its southern boundary. Part of its boundary is adjacent to the Northeast Florida minority opportunity district (District 1).

Several participants at the Jacksonville hearing requested that Nassau County be kept whole. In the benchmark plan, District 5 divided Nassau, Clay, and St. Johns counties.

District 6

Combines the counties of the Capitol Region. The district consists entirely of whole counties, following political boundaries for its entire perimeter. The district includes Gadsden, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Taylor, Wakulla, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, and Hamilton counties. Its location is largely dictated by District 2 and District 4 to its west.

District 6 combines communities that associate with Tallahassee, which lies near the geographic center of the district. Many residents in the surrounding counties travel to Tallahassee for work and recreation, and the district is traversed by Interstate 10, which promotes intra-district travel and commerce. At the public hearing in Tallahassee, several members of the public urged the elimination of fingers like the one in District 3 of the benchmark plan that pushes into Tallahassee.

District 7

Combines the communities south and west of Daytona Beach in Volusia County with northern Brevard County and eastern Orange County. The district follows the western border of Volusia County, the northern border of Orange County, the Econlockhatchee River, and, as its southern boundary, the Beachline Expressway through Orange and Brevard counties, and the northern boundary of the city of Cocoa. Its eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean.

The committee heard testimony from the public at the Dayton Beach hearing requesting at least one district based primarily in Volusia County. Additionally, members of the public requested that cities in Volusia County be kept whole. Consistent with this testimony, District 7 does not divide cities, and it follows the boundaries of DeBary, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, and Daytona Beach Shores for portions of its boundary.

District 8

Combines the coastal communities of Northeast Florida from the Jacksonville beaches south of the mouth of the St. Johns River to Daytona Beach. The district is adjacent to the northeast Florida minority-access district to its west and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

The district is connected through common interests along the northeast coast of Florida, from Atlantic Beach to St. Augustine Beach and Daytona Beach. Interstate 95 runs through most of District 8 and thus facilitates commerce and transportation across the district. Public plan SPUBS0155 includes a district similar to District 8.

District 9

Includes communities along the Florida Turnpike from Leesburg to Orlando. Its western boundary is the western boundary of Lake County, and its southern boundary is the southern boundary of Lake and Orange counties. On the east, the district abuts two minority opportunity districts in Central Florida. District 9 contains closely united territory.

Travel through the district is facilitated not only by the Florida Turnpike, but by Interstate 4 to the east and Highway 441 to the north. The communities it unites are connected with Orlando, as well as Lake Buena Vista and Winter Park, in several respects. Residents of Mount Dora, Clermont, Minneola, Leesburg, and other municipalities throughout the district frequently travel to Orlando for work and recreation.

District 10

Links the communities east of Tampa, partially encircling the city. On the north and south, District 10 follows the boundaries of Hillsborough County. On the west, it abuts Interstate 275 and a minority-opportunity district that generally follows Interstate 75 and Tampa Bay. On the east, District 10 follows State Road 39 and the western and northern outskirts of Plant City. The district is contained wholly within Hillsborough County.

District 10 consists of the closely united territory along the eastern periphery of greater Tampa. Communities such as Brandon, Sun City Center, and Apollo Beach are associated by geographical proximity and shared interests. At the public hearing in Tampa, the committee heard from members of both communities requesting that they be kept whole.

District 11

Connects the communities of northern and western Pasco County with all of Hernando County and most of Sumter County. The district is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the west, the boundaries of Hernando and Sumter County on the north and east, and State Road 52 in Pasco County along most of its southern border.

At the public hearing in Wesley Chapel the committee heard from several members of the public who pointed out the similarities between the rural portions of Hernando, Pasco, and Sumter counties. This district combines the common interests described at the Wesley Chapel hearing. Members of the public also pointed out the growing interest of The Villages in Sumter County. District 11 does not include the portion of The Villages that falls within Sumter County. Instead, The Villages and its separate interests are preserved whole within District 20.

District 12

Links the communities in northwest Hillsborough County with south-central and southeast Pasco County. In Hillsborough County, the district is bounded on the west by the boundary between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and on the east by a minority opportunity district and Interstate 275. In Pasco County, the district is bounded chiefly by State Road 52. The district does not divide any cities in Pasco County, following the boundaries of St. Leo and San Antonio.

At the public hearing in Wesley Chapel the committee heard from members of the public who pointed out the division between East Pasco, which has a coastal focus, and West Pasco, which is more rural. One member of the public suggested that communities like Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Lutz form a
contiguous zone of common interest. The district provides ease of travel along Veterans Expressway, Suncoast Parkway, Interstates 75 and 275, and State Roads 52 and 56.

District 13

Contains communities in northern Pinellas County. The district is bounded by the Pinellas County line on the north and east and by the Gulf of Mexico and Intracoastal Waterway on the west. On the south, the boundary crosses Pinellas County without dividing any municipalities. Parts of the boundary follow the municipal boundaries of St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Largo, Seminole, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair, Belleair Beach, and Clearwater.

District 13 contains, in its entirety, the related communities of Largo, Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs. Many of the submissions received from the public contained districts that united the communities of northern Pinellas County.

District 14

Consists of three whole counties -- Alachua, Bradford, and Clay -- and therefore follows political boundaries for the entire extent of its perimeter. The regular shapes of the counties that compose District 14 result in a district of closely united territory.

At the public hearings in Gainesville and Jacksonville, the committee heard from several members of the public urging the Legislature, to the extent possible, to avoid the division of the many communities in Alachua, Bradford, and Clay counties. By maintaining Alachua, Bradford, and Clayas whole counties, District 14 preserves each of the municipalities in the three counties.

District 15

Links the mostly rural communities of Osceola, Polk, and Orange Counties. A portion of its boundary is defined by Hispanic-majority District 24. On the northwest, the district follows the boundary of Polk County. On the east, it follows the boundary of Osceola County. Along much of its northern and southern boundaries, it follows the Beachline Expressway and State Road 60, respectively. From its north-central point, the district is connected to the east by the Beachline Expressway, to the southeast by the Florida Turnpike, and to the southwest by Interstate 4.

At the public hearing in Lakeland, the committee heard testimony pointing out the rural nature of the majority of Polk County outside of Lakeland, and the interests in the agricultural industry that the region shares, differentiating it from the urban areas in Tampa to the west and Orlando to the northeast. The portion of Osceola County contained in District 15 shares these rural and agricultural interests.

District 16

Connects the southern and beach communities in Pinellas County with south Tampa. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, on the north by Interstate 275 and municipal boundaries across Pinellas County, and on the east and south by a minority opportunity district. The district unites the beach communities in western Pinellas County from Belleair Beach to St. Pete Beach.

These communities share economic interests and contribute significantly to the economic life of Pinellas County. Interstate 275 provides easy transportation throughout the district.

District 17

Includes the predominantly rural, agricultural areas from the Kissimmee basin to Lake Okeechobee. The district includes all of Hardee, Desoto, Glades, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties, as well as the largely rural parts of southern Polk County, northern Charlotte County, and eastern Martin and St. Lucie counties. It follows the western boundaries of Hardee and Desoto counties, the southern boundaries of Glades and Martin counties, and the northern boundaries of St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. The district also follows State Road 60 through much of Polk County and County Road 74 through most of Charlotte County.

At the public hearing in Wauchula, several members of the public urged the committee to group the inland communities in counties like Hardee, Highlands and Glades with each other, rather than with coastal and urban communities. District 17 attempts to give effect to the expressed desire for an agricultural district.

District 18

Preserves the core of a minority access district for Tampa Bay that was created by the Florida Supreme Court in 1992 and has consistently elected the candidate of choice of minority voters. The district connects African-American and Hispanic communities in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pinellas counties, but also unites urban populations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Bradenton. The district follows geographical boundaries along portions of its perimeter, using Tampa Bay at its center and Interstate 75 on the east.

At the Tampa public hearing, the committee heard from a number of members of the public who argued for a minority access district in Hillsborough County. District 18 has a black voting-age population of 37.3 percent and a Hispanic voting-age population of 27.5 percent.

District 19

Unites urban, largely minority communities in Orange and Seminole counties. It includes parts of Orlando, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Apopka, Maitland Winter Park and Sanford, as well as the historic city of Eatonville.

At the public hearing in Orlando, the committee heard from representatives of the minority communities in the Orlando area who argued for their junction in a single district. District 19 has a black voting-age population of 40 percent.

District 20

Connects the largely rural area north of Central Florida. The district follows most of the boundaries of Putnam County and, on the east, part of the eastern boundary of Lake County. On the west, District 20 follows Interstate 75 and the western boundary of Ocala through Marion County. It includes The Villages in Marion and in the northern portion of Sumter and Lake counties. District 20 includes The Villages, Ocala, rural areas in eastern Marion County and Putnam County, and most of central and east Lake County.

At the public hearing in The Villages, the committee heard from many members of the public who expressed a desire to keep that community together, pointing out the common culture, lifestyle and interest shared by the people that live in The Villages.

District 21

Combines the large share of Manatee County not in the Tampa Bay minority access district with communities in eastern Hillsborough and western Polk County. The district follows the boundaries of Manatee County adjacent to the minority access district. In Hillsborough County it follows Highways District 579, 674, and 39 and the outskirts of Plant City. The boundary crosses into Polk County on Highway 582 and through the city of Lakeland using Interstate 4, U.S. 92, and U.S. 98. The district boundary passes between Mulberry, which is entirely inside the district, and Bartow, which is entirely outside the
district.

At the Tampa hearing, the committee heard from members of the public who testified that the rural communities in eastern Hillsborough County around Plant City associate more closely with each other than with neighboring Tampa. At the public hearing in Sarasota the committee heard similar testimony
about the rural communities of eastern Manatee, including testimony that the rural communities of Myakka Head, Old Myakka and Myakka City in Manatee share similarities with rural areas of southern Polk and eastern Hillsborough counties.

District 22

Combines the majority of Seminole County, excepting portions of northern and western Seminole County that are part of a minority opportunity district, with parts of northern Orange County as necessary to equalize the district population. The eastern boundary of the district consists of the eastern boundary of Seminole County and the Econlockhatchee River.

The district includes like communities such as Longwood, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Oviedo, and most of Lake Mary and Altamonte Springs.

District 23

Includes all of Sarasota County and the eastern portion of Charlotte County. It follows the Gulf of Mexico on the west, the boundary of Sarasota County on the north and east, and Charlotte Harbor in the south.

At the Sarasota public hearing, the committee heard testimony asking that Sarasota County be kept in a single district. Additionally, members of the public advocated combining Sarasota and western Charlotte counties, pointing out the common interest they share as coastal communities. District 23 ties the communities of Longboat Key, Sarasota, Venice, North Port, and Port Charlotte. It is intersected by Interstate 75, which runs from the northern to the southeastern boundary of the district.

District 24

Unites the predominantly Puerto-Rican Hispanic communities of Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties. The communities in this region have similar commercial and economic interests.

The committee received testimony from many members of the public at the Orlando public hearing and through email that pointed out the growing Hispanic population in Central Florida and the common culture, language, and business interests shared among the community. More than 50 percent of the voting-age population of District 24 is Hispanic.

District 25

Connects the coastal communities of Broward and Palm Beach counties. It is adjacent to the minority opportunity district to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. In the northwest, the district follows the municipal boundaries of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. In the northeast, it crosses through Jupiter following the Loxahatchee River. On the south, it follows the Fort Lauderdale city boundary.

The committee heard from many members of the public at the Davie and Boca Raton public hearings who emphasized the shared interests among coastal residents in the two counties, including tourism and affordable property insurance. A number of maps submitted by the public contain districts substantially similar to District 25.

District 26

Combines southern Brevard County with northern and western Indian River County, including the cities of Sebastian and Fellsmere. The district follows the borders of Brevard and Indian River counties on the west and south, and is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and Interstate 95. On the north, District 26 generally follows the Beachline Expressway, the municipal boundaries of Cocoa, and the barge canal that crosses Merritt Island and empties to the Atlantic at Port Canaveral. District 26 ties communities along the barrier islands of the Space Coast with similar communities along U.S. 1 and Interstate 95.

The committee heard testimony at the Melbourne hearing noting that the population of Brevard County must be divided into two Senate districts. In this plan, the majority of the county is in a single district, with a small remainder in District 7.

District 27

Combines eastern Lee and southern Charlotte counties. The district follows the county boundaries of Lee and Charlotte counties on the east and south and the Caloosahatchee River, the municipal boundary of Cape Coral, and Charlotte Harbor on the west. The district is traversed by Interstate 75 from Punta Gorda in the north to Fort Myers and Bonita Springs in the south.

At the Lehigh Acres public hearing, many testified about their desire to see Lehigh Acres kept in a single district. The committee also heard multiple requests that the city of Bonita Springs be put in a mostly Lee County district. District 27 ties all of Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers and Punta Gorda with almost all the population of Bonita Springs in a single district.

District 28

Connects the Treasure Coast communities of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and northern Palm Beach counties. On the east, the district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. On the west, it is generally bounded by the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 95.

At the Stuart meeting, the committee received testimony that described the similar interests shared by the communities of northern Palm Beach County and the rest of the Treasure Coast.

District 29

Unites communities along Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 in Palm Beach and Broward counties. It also preserves the core of an existing district that has consistently elected candidates preferred by minority voters. The district includes all of Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes and is bounded on the south in part by the municipal boundaries of Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, and Dania Beach.

The committee heard from several members of the public at both the Boca Raton and Davie hearings that expressed concerns that the African-American communities continue to have a voice. District 29 has a black voting-age population of 55.7 percent. A number of public maps contain similar districts.

District 30

Includes communities in southern and central Palm Beach County between Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike. District 30 is adjacent to the minority opportunity district to the east. In places, the district follows the municipal boundaries of Boca Raton, Greenacres, and other cities.

The district combines the Century Village retirement communities in Palm Beach County as well as western Boca Raton and suburbs. It is oriented along the principal transportation routes that run from north to south through heavily populated areas in Palm Beach County.

District 31

Includes communities of south Broward County. Its southern boundary follows the southern boundary of Broward County and the northern boundary of the minority-majority district in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Its eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean, and its northern boundary generally follows the city boundaries of Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, and Miramar, as well as Interstate 595. Travel through the district is facilitated by Interstates 75, 95, and 595, and several major thoroughfares that cross the district east-to-west.

The district unites most of Cooper City and Davie, which the committee heard at the public hearing in Davie share a single chamber of commerce and interest in equestrian issues.

District 32

Combines the inland municipalities in the northern portion of Broward County. The district is bounded on the west by the Sawgrass Expressway, on the north by the Broward County line, on the east and south by the minority opportunity district that parallels Interstate 95, and further along the south by the Tamarac and Sunrise city lines. The district closely follows political boundaries and consists of a geographically concentrated area entirely within Broward County.
The district includes, in their entirety, the municipalities of Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Margate, Coconut Creek, and Parkland. It unites similar communities traversed through the center of the district by the Florida Turnpike, on the east of the district by Interstate 95, and on the west of the district by the Sawgrass Expressway.

The committee received testimony at the public hearing in Davie requesting that these communities be grouped together because they share many interests and amenities, including schools, hospitals and chambers of commerce. This same testimony argued that these interests were distinct from those in the neighboring communities of Cooper City and Weston.

District 33

Includes the core of a majority-black district that has a history of electing the candidate preferred by minority voters. The district includes all of Miami Gardens, Opa-Locka, Biscayne Park, West Park and Pembroke Park, plus portions of North Miami, North Miami Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Miramar and Pembroke Pines. The district combines similar communities located in a geographically concentrated area of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. It is intersected by Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike.

The committee heard considerable testimony at the Miami public hearing about the cohesiveness of the African-American community in Miami-Dade County, calling special attention to the similarities in the communities in Miami Gardens and the eastern part of Miramar in Broward County. The district has a black voting-age population of 57.8 percent.

District 34

Includes western portions of Palm Beach and Broward County. On the north, south and west, the district follows the county boundaries of Broward and Palm Beach counties. It includes the cities of Southwest Ranches, Weston, Wellington, Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, portions of Pembroke Pines, Davie and Sunrise, plus a small portion of Cooper City. It also includes the entire Everglades Agricultural Area and conservation areas in western Broward and Palm Beach counties. The Florida Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway, Interstate 75 and U.S. 98 are major transportation arteries connecting communities within the district. It also utilizes the western boundaries of Miramar, Plantation, Tamarac, Coconut Creek, Parkland, Greenacres, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.

In Boca Raton, the committee heard that the areas of Palm Beach County west of the Florida Turnpike had an agricultural interest distinct from the economic focus of communities east of the Turnpike, and that the western communities should be grouped with similar communities. In District 34, these communities are grouped with communities in Broward County situated along a similar longitudinal line.

District 35

Includes the coastal communities of Miami-Dade County. The district generally encompasses areas east of U.S. 1 from the Miami-Dade County boundary on the north to Homestead in the south. Along its western boundary, the district follows the boundaries of Aventura, Miami Shores, El Portal, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike. The district is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

The committee received testimony at the public hearing in Miami and by email requesting that the coastal communities of Miami-Dade County be apportioned to a single district. These communities share concerns about oil drilling, tourism, and beach renourishment. The district has a Hispanic voting age population of 50.5 percent.

District 36

Includes the Allapatah and Little Havana neighborhoods in Miami, Coral Gables north of U.S. 1, and all of South Miami and West Miami. On the southeast, the district follows U.S. 1 and the municipal boundaries of South Miami, Pinecrest, and Palmetto Bay. The district is bounded by State Road 985 (West 107th Avenue) on the west, and by the city limits of Miami along much of its northern boundary.

The municipalities and surrounding areas included in District 36 form a cohesive Hispanic community, with a shared culture, shared interests, and shared language. At the South Miami hearing, the committee heard testimony that the area around Kendall, Sunset and Westchester formed a collection of like communities that should be grouped together. District 36 has a Hispanic voting-age population of 83.4 percent and is located exclusively within Miami-Dade County. Public plans SPUBS0108 and SPUBS0144 contain districts that similarly connect South Miami and West Miami and have a majority-Hispanic voting-age population.

District 37

Is a coastal district that combines like communities in Lee and Collier counties. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and on the north and south by the Charlotte Monroe County boundary. On the east, it abuts a minority opportunity district (District 39) protected by Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act, and then follows the Intercoastal Waterway, including Estero Bay, the Caloosahatchee River, and the municipal boundary of Cape Coral through Lee County. The district includes all of Cape Coral, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Naples, and Marco Island. Travel through the district is facilitated by Interstate 75 and the Tamiami Trail.

District 38

Unites the Hispanic communities of western Miami-Dade County. As its boundaries, it utilizes the Tamiami Trail and Dolphin Expressway on the north, State Road 985 (West 107th Avenue) and the Homestead Extension on the east, and State Road 997 (Krome Avenue) on the west. The district consists of a geographically concentrated area entirely within Miami-Dade County.

The committee received public testimony at the Miami public hearing pointing out that the communities of West Kendall and Hammocks share a distinct identity and should not be divided. District 38 has a Hispanic voting-age population of 83.5 percent and unites communities with a shared culture, shared interests, and shared language. Public plan HPUBS0085 includes a district in Miami-Dade County with a similar orientation and majority-Hispanic population.

District 39

Preserves the core of an existing district that has consistently elected the candidate preferred by minority voters, and which is protected by Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act. The largely rural district combines Hendry and Monroe counties with rural portions of Collier and Miami-Dade counties, including most of Everglades National Park. It follows portions of the boundaries of Hendry, Collier, and Miami-Dade counties on the north. On the west it abuts a coastal district that reflects the urban areas of Naples and Cape Coral, and on the east it abuts districts that contain primarily urban, Hispanic communities. District 39 also extends into northern Miami and El Portal.

The committee heard testimony in Miami expressing the desire of African-American communities in existing District 39 to continue to have a voice in the region. The proposed District 39 has a black voting-age population of 35.1 percent and Hispanic voting-age population of 39.5 percent.

District 40

Is a geographically concentrated district in northern Miami-Dade County. It follows the Miami-Dade County boundary on the north and State Road 997 (Krome Avenue) on the west. On the south, it abuts the minority opportunity district protected by Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act (District 39). On the east, the district generally follows the municipal boundaries of Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Opa-Locka, and Miami Springs. District 40 ties together similar, predominantly Hispanic communities, including the municipalities of Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Miami Springs, Medley, Miami Lakes, Virginia Gardens, and nearly all of Doral.

At the Miami public hearing, the committee received testimony from the public that Hialeah Gardens, Miami Lakes, Miami Springs and Medley share many of the same services and have the same needs, like the Enterprise Zones and Historically Underutilized Business Zones, that are best addressed by being combined in a distinct district. These municipalities draw together a cohesive Hispanic community that shares common values and interests. The district is intersected by the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 75. District 40 has a Hispanic voting-age population of 86.9 percent.