Duval Delegation Pushes Port and Airport Meeting Streams

Legislation would require Jacksonville's port and aviation authorities to livestream public meetings and post them online within three days.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Isometric editorial illustration of stacked shipping containers, a port crane, and a small camera tripod on a riverside quay in flat oxblood, teal, and mustard tones. — Duval County lawmakers are pushing a bill requiring the Jacksonville Port Authority and Jacksonville Aviation Authority to livestream public meetings and post them online within three days. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Duval County legislative delegation is carrying a bill requiring the Jacksonville Port Authority and Jacksonville Aviation Authority to stream their meetings, except shade meetings. Meeting streams would have to be posted on authority websites within three days.

Why it matters

The Jacksonville City Council passed a resolution supporting the charter amendment, saying it will ensure meetings are held in the most open and transparent manner practicable. Rep. Dean Black cited the aspiration for more public access and bringing meetings out of the darkness and into the light.

The bill requires authority meeting streams to be posted online within three days, with an exception for shade meetings. Other independent authorities can be handled locally without a charter change, except the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which is a state agency; the status of the bill's final passage is not stated.

The players

Tony Ricardo

Tony Ricardo is a member of the Duval County School Board who spoke among stakeholders on the proposals this week.

Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis is the Governor of Florida who signed legislation last year allowing the FIVE venue to serve liquor under food and ticket income conditions.

Ron Salem

Ron Salem is a member of the Jacksonville City Council who sponsored the resolution supporting the charter amendment.

Dean Black

Dean Black is a Florida state representative who cited the aspiration for more public access to authority meetings.

The details

The delegation is also carrying a local bill relaxing open container rules in the proposed Pearl Square Open Container District, which would allow drinking outside on private property between Ashley, Church, Julia and Pearl streets and amends a 1987 special act. The move follows Gov. Ron DeSantis's signing of legislation last year allowing the Riverside venue FIVE to serve liquor if more than half its income comes from food and ticket sales.

Last year: Governor signed legislation allowing FIVE venue to serve liquor.
Friday: Stakeholders spoke on the proposals, including School Board Member Tony Ricardo.
This week: A School Board meeting devolved into chaos and the room was cleared of speakers for a time.

Legislative Policy Context

The Pearl Square bill amends a 1987 special act, continuing a pattern in which Florida's local open container and liquor rules are changed through individual modification bills. Five similar modification bills were carried in the 15 years before last year's FIVE legislation.

If passed, residents could watch Jacksonville Port Authority and Aviation Authority meetings online, with streams posted within three days. Pearl Square visitors would be allowed to drink outdoors on private property within the proposed district.

The takeaway

Public meetings held by Jacksonville's port and aviation authorities may soon be viewable online within days of each session. Residents interested in these changes can follow local legislative updates as the bills move forward.