Legislators Withdraw Port Governance Bill Amid Rising Concerns Over Proposed Cruise Terminal

Manatee County legislators have withdrawn a bill that would have restructured the governance of SeaPort Manatee, citing heightened public concern surrounding a proposed cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Bradenton Republican Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson announced that the Manatee County legislative delegation has pulled HB 4073 from further consideration during the current Legislative Session. The bill, sponsored by Lakewood Ranch Rep. Bill Conerly, would have converted the Manatee County Port Authority from a dependent special district governed by the Manatee County Commission into an independent special district overseen by a five-member board, with four members appointed by the Governor and one by county commissioners.

According to Boyd and Robinson, the intent of the legislation was to establish a more business-oriented governance structure capable of advancing a long-term vision for SeaPort Manatee. However, they acknowledged that the proposal's timing coincided with rising public opposition to a privately proposed cruise terminal on Rattlesnake Key, prompting concerns about altering control of the port authority during a sensitive period.

The proposed cruise terminal, advanced by developers SSA Marine and Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC, envisions a multiberth facility designed to accommodate large cruise ships unable to pass beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Project materials indicate the terminal would be privately financed and located on the Knott-Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

Boyd and Robinson have stated their opposition to the cruise port concept, describing the area as one of the region’s most environmentally sensitive and least developed stretches of coastline. They noted that efforts to protect Rattlesnake Key and the surrounding wetlands through public acquisition have spanned several years but have not been successful.

In 2022, the legislative delegation secured $23 million in state funding to purchase the property for conservation, but the deal collapsed after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection declined to approve the purchase based on its appraisal. A subsequent effort in 2024 added approximately $8 million in additional funding, with Manatee County prepared to contribute more, but negotiations again failed when the property owner sought a higher price. The land was later sold to a private entity now pursuing the cruise terminal proposal.

With the withdrawal of HB 4073, the governance structure of SeaPort Manatee remains unchanged, and the port will continue operating under the authority of the Manatee County Commission.

Lawmakers emphasized that while circumstances have shifted, their priorities remain focused on protecting the region’s natural resources, advancing constituent interests, and making deliberate, well-timed decisions about the future of SeaPort Manatee.

Conerly later expressed continued support for SeaPort Manatee while cautioning against a passenger cruise terminal. He cited concerns including seasonal traffic surges, roadway congestion, infrastructure strain, and potential environmental impacts on sensitive coastal habitats. He also noted that increased vessel activity and tourism-related traffic could conflict with the port’s cargo-focused mission, and concluded that strengthening existing cargo operations is the most responsible and sustainable path forward.