With Florida’s Museum of Black History soon taking shape in St. Johns County, state lawmakers are requiring an Administrative Board to be established, according to the bill authorizing the facility’s construction.
Sen. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach introduced Senate Bill 308, which would create an Administrative Board that must be formed by July 31, 2026. The panel will oversee the museum’s construction, operation, and administration — a key step in fulfilling the vision outlined in legislation authorizing the museum’s development.
The Board will oversee the Commission, construction, operation and administration of the museum, a press release from Leek’s office notes.
“I firmly believe that we cannot tell the history of Florida without also telling the history of Black Floridians, which is why I am proud to file Senate Bill 308 in support of Florida’s Museum of Black History,” Leek said. “The museum will be built on the former site of Florida Memorial University, which has historical significance here in St. Johns County, and I look forward to working with our community and our state in furtherance of this significant designation.”
The Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker would appoint three members of the Board, which would also have two Senators and two Representatives. None of the nine members picked by leadership could hold elected office while serving.
The new Board will also work alongside the Foundation for the Museum of Black History to manage funding, programming, and long-term planning — a partnership intended to guarantee both transparency and sustainability for the institution.
