Decisions › County Commission meeting of May 19, 2026
Approved an ordinance establishing Lake County as a Bill of Rights Protection County with language changes to protect law-abiding citizens.
The result is from the Clerk's Board ActionThe Clerk's same-week record of what the County Commission decided on each agenda tab. Vote tallies and discussion come later in the Board Minutes. Clerk of Court, Board Action and Board Minutes on Municode. The vote by name appears here when the official minutes are posted, usually a few weeks after the meeting.
Watch this part of the meeting (starts at 1:42:48)
The county's own recording.
In plain words
A public hearing to adopt an ordinanceA county law. The Board adopts it at an advertised public hearing, and it stays in force until repealed; the county's ordinances are collected in the Code of Ordinances. Florida Statutes 125.66 creating Section 2-6 of the Lake County Code, establishing Lake County as a Bill of Rights Sanctuary County.
What changes The ordinance is adopted and executed, creating Section 2-6 of the Lake County Code with the language changes approved by the Board.
Who and the money Applies to Lake County; the record states there is no fiscal impact.
Stated reason (staff, quoted): "Following discussions on April 28, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners approved for advertising a proposed Ordinance creating Section 2-6, Lake County Code, to be entitled Bill of Rights Sanctuary County, establishing Lake County as a Bill of Rights Sanctuary."
Why (staff, quoted) "Following discussions on April 28, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners approved for advertising a proposed Ordinance creating Section 2-6, Lake County Code, to be entitled Bill of Rights Sanctuary County, establishing Lake County as a Bill of Rights Sanctuary."
Backup in the packet: Business Impact Estimate_Bill of Rights Sanctuary (p. 556), J. McIntosh_Affordable Housing Impact_Bill of Rights Sanctuary Ordinance_5.01.2026 (p. 556), Interested Party Comments_5.12.26 (p. 556), collier-county-ordinance-2023-39-engrossed-final (p. 556), 2026-___ Declaring Lake County as Bill of Rights Sanctuary_5.14.26 (p. 556)
Written from the Board Action and the staff cover sheet, checked by script: every number appears in the record. Staff memo
From the record
PUBLIC HEARING: Recommend adoption and execution of Ordinance 2026-21 creating Section 2-6, Lake County Code, establishing Lake County as a Bill of Rights Sanctuary County. There is no fiscal impact. The Board approved the original ordinance with some language changes, which included the following: removing the term “sanctuary”; leaving in the actual text of the Bill of Rights; adding “protect the rights of law-abiding citizens” in subsection C; adding the phrase “as an American citizen” to the definition; and calling it the Bill of Rights Protection Ordinance.Clerk of Court, Board Action, May 19, 2026, page 8. Open the official document
The rest of this meeting
- Previous item: Approved a zoning rule change requiring a Homeowners Association Compliance Affidavit with every zoning permit application in Lake County.
- Next item: Approved advertising an ordinance that repeals the Lake County Code section regulating pain management clinics.
- All 33 items from May 19, 2026
More on government operations
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved a change to the firefighter contract for third-year wages and moved $2,615,936 from reserves to pay the $2,615,935.04 cost.
- Oct 27, 2026 Pulled the discussion on installing cameras in employee vehicles, leaving the policy decision for a later meeting.
- Oct 27, 2026 Appointed Andrew McGuire, Christie Folker, and Allyson Berry to the Sales Surtax Oversight Committee for four-year terms ending November 19, 2030.
- Oct 13, 2026 Approved a change to the January 2027 Board of County Commissioner meeting dates to January 12, 2027, and January 26, 2027.
- Oct 13, 2026 Approved a substantial amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan and an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.