Transcript Highlights:

• The daily rate was set for any vehicle, and it varies from community to community.
• I know there are outdoor, indoor, heavy vehicle, you know, versus, for lack of a better word, small vehicle—my
• And electric vehicles cannot be routinely stored like other vehicles and must continue to be addressed
• In doing so, Staff in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's procedures.
• , and that limits their ability to store other vehicles.

Bills: S0018 , S0028 , S0260 , S0848 , S0934 , S1014 , S1102 , S1264 , S1566 , S1622 , S1724

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, by increasing vehicle registration fees, we distance fees, and establishing an electric vehicle surcharge
• Row 11, which is the motor vehicle excise tax. We did two things, Mr.
• tax, vehicle registration fees, um, gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees actually should seem
• registration, gasoline tax and vehicle registration revenues.
• Uh, increase to vehicle registration fees that was $30 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I mean, larger vehicles.
• We're looking more at the larger commercial vehicles. Okay.
• We're looking more at the larger commercial vehicles. Okay.
• a vehicle out of, like, one that's been flipped over.
• Man, once the vehicle is released, we're not getting any money.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2759 in executive session. The sponsor explained a committee substitute that would shift the bill’s disclosure requirement so project completion dates would be posted when work is awarded, rather than during the bidding process. Members discussed the fiscal note and whether the change could affect contractor pricing and MoDOT costs. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2759 “do pass” by a roll call of 13 ayes and one present. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bill 1741, which would create procedures for non-consensual towing of commercial vehicles, including a towing and recovery review board, limits on storage charges while disputes are pending, restrictions on liens, access requirements, and penalties for violations. Representative Griffith said the bill is aimed at protecting independent truckers from excessive towing charges while still allowing emergency road clearance. Members raised concerns about the scope of the bill, the lack of a dispute timeline, the proposed $25,000 penalty, the ban on per-pound billing, and whether the bill could interfere with emergency towing or create litigation involving the state. Supporters, including representatives from trucking groups, described large and sometimes excessive tow bills, argued that small owner-operators can be bankrupted by these costs, and said Missouri lacks a meaningful complaint process. Opponents from towing associations said the bill, as written, could prevent non-consensual commercial tows because towers need a lien or other leverage to get paid, especially when vehicles or cargo are abandoned or out of state. They also argued that emergency recoveries are dangerous, expensive, and highly variable, and that the bill should be narrowed and clarified. The sponsor and witnesses on both sides indicated a willingness to keep working on amendments, and no final action was taken on House Bill 1741 during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , federally defined as covered farm vehicles.
• Many exemptions already exist for similar vehicles.
• diesel-powered vehicles.
• Retrofitting these farm vehicles can be extremely costly for folks.
• And as previously stated, these vehicles aren't driving nearly as much as other vehicles that already

Committees: House Agriculture , House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Jose Rodriguez Lua, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on November 1st, 2024 when the vehicle
• for title disputes, fraud, and vehicle theft.
• of Motor Vehicles.
• The sort of foundation of the bill is to allow folks who have a vehicle and have a lien on the vehicle
• , but it affects all types of motor vehicles under the GDN.

Bills: SB215 , SB1104 , SB1351 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB1423 , SB1568

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard several bills, mostly local memorial highway designations and transportation-related regulatory measures. Senator Hinojosa presented SB 1351 to designate part of US 281 in Hidalgo County as the Jose Rodriguez Lua Memorial Highway in honor of a Border Patrol processing coordinator killed by a drunk driver; a family member testified emotionally in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 2245 on bonded titles for vehicles when a lienholder has gone out of business, SB 1568 on animal-friendly specialty license plates with a second “spay, neuter, adopt” plate, SB 2589 on handling closed county roads in Webb County, SB 1104 on allowing large retailers to use one fingerprinted employee of record across multiple Texas locations, SB 1423 naming the Bill Stout Parkway in Longview, and SB 1931 naming part of US 83 the Rodolfo Valdez Memorial Highway. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony or were presented as local measures with no opposition. The committee also took up broader policy bills. SB 215 would create a digital identification program for Texas driver’s licenses and certain other licenses, but the sponsor said he was mainly laying the bill out for discussion and study; testimony was limited and the bill was left pending. SB 2707 would clarify that government entities such as TxDOT and the military remain exempt from fees on oversized/overweight permit authority, though a county commissioner raised questions about road-use impacts and fee revenue. SB 2807 drew the most discussion: it would prevent a motor carrier’s use of safety technology, training, and related practices from being used as evidence that an independent contractor is actually an employee. Supporters said the bill would encourage adoption of safety tools like cameras and braking systems without increasing misclassification risk, while opponents from the trial lawyers’ side warned the wording could conflict with existing labor-code definitions and create litigation. The sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying floor amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on the pending bills. All measures were reported favorably on 6-0 votes, with committee substitutes adopted where applicable. SB 1351, SB 1423, SB 1568, SB 1931, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2707, SB 2807, and SB 2841 were all sent to the full Senate, and several were recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after completing the votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> indexing and then the uh motor vehicle indexing and then the uh motor vehicle rental<00:04:33.840
• , and motor vehicle sales tax.
• Electric vehicles actually impose more wear and tear than conventional vehicles.
• Vehicles the tear than conventional Vehicles the state<00:43:03.440><c> smart</c><00:43:03.720><c> Transportation
• In order to get that little sticker, I had to pay almost $400 for a vehicle that is not a new vehicle

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• If that actual loan on the vehicle.
• So basically um seems of the vehicle.
• and you paid for that vehicle and you still had a loan on that vehicle and you No worries.
• and you paid for that vehicle and you still had a loan on that vehicle and you the sales tax?"
• </c> seller or donor of the motor vehicle seller or donor of the motor vehicle shall<00:25:51.600><c>

Bills: SF0061 , SF0098 , SF0110

Committee: Senate Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• The initial daily rate was set for any vehicle, correct? And it varies.
• I know there are outdoor, indoor, heavy vehicle, you know, versus, for lack of a better word, small vehicle—my
• Do you know of any statistics that show how many days a vehicle is, I would say, most, a vehicle is,
• And electric vehicles cannot be routinely stored like other vehicles and must continue to be addressed
• , and that limits their ability to store other vehicles.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and approved several bills on water quality, public safety, utilities, and transparency. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment and water quality enhancement areas was presented as a follow-up to prior water quality legislation and was reported favorably with no opposition. SB 28, a claim bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy, drowning prevention, and autism advocates who described Florida’s high child drowning rates and supported requiring at least one pool or water-safety feature at short- and long-term rentals; the committee adopted two amendments, including one requiring license applicants to certify compliance, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 1724 on municipal utility services, which addresses outside-city utility service agreements, revenue use, rate limits, and customer meetings; an amendment added gas utilities back into the bill. CS/SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a section viewed as conflicting with the Live Local Act and then reported favorably. SB 1622, creating a one-time waiver for certain late-filed financial disclosure fines, was supported by speakers and reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 260 on electric vehicle storage at towing facilities was amended to focus on storage only and to limit the extra fee period until inspection clears fire risk; the bill drew mixed testimony from insurers, towing-related interests, and fire officials, but was reported favorably. Later, SB 1264 on private schools was presented as easing zoning and occupancy barriers for small schools and microschools, with supporters saying it would help meet demand for school choice; members raised concerns about local implementation, but the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits was amended to apply only to residential properties and to clarify capacity and annexation-related exceptions; it was supported by local-government and environmental testimony and reported favorably. CS/SB 1102, expanding the local government infrastructure surtax to include body camera costs, was amended so any use would require a new referendum and was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related information, drew testimony from counties, cities, and transparency advocates about costs and uniform templates, and was reported favorably after amendment, with several senators noting concerns for smaller local governments while supporting the transparency goal.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the individual machine, UTV, was required to be tagged as any vehicle is.
• You know, the individual machine, UTV, was required to be tagged as any vehicle is.
• These vehicles can travel with the flow of traffic.
• These vehicles can travel with the flow of traffic.
• The vehicles do not handle properly on paved roads and lack vehicle design and safety equipment required

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework allowing counties and municipalities to designate certain roads for utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) under local conditions, including driver licensing, insurance, and speed-limit restrictions below 55 mph. Senator Wright said the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and mirror the local-option approach used for golf carts. Supporters included a retired Volusia County sheriff and county commissioner, who argued UTVs are safer than golf carts and are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are designed for off-road use, lack federal safety standards, and pose crash and tire-blowout risks on public roads. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash severity, but the committee ultimately voted to report SB 356 favorably. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding, beginning with a moment of silence for JaxPort COO and former FDOT employee James Bennett. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and the Port of Palm Beach described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the need for continued state and federal support for dredging, bulkheads, cranes, rail, and terminal expansion. Senators asked about ROI, trade shifts, intermodal connections, fuel and LNG availability, leverage and reserves, and operational risks such as flooding, sea level rise, and channel depth; port officials emphasized resiliency, private partnerships, and long-term master planning. The committee also confirmed appointees to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority in one vote, with no objection. Finally, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, explaining that coordinated statewide use of LiDAR and aerial imagery could reduce duplication, improve emergency management and planning, and support insurance and storm-damage assessment. FDOT recommended a formal statewide coordination program, shared procurement and cost-sharing agreements, dedicated staffing, and statutory updates to Chapter 334 to support interagency agreements and recurring funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative West helps out our motor vehicle rental place...
• Their lives or vehicle miles traveled.
• Passenger vehicles are the lion's share of this amount.
• With AI, with electric vehicles, the things that are being developed.
• It shows you vehicles all around you because these vehicles have cameras all over the place.

Transcript Highlights:

• . vehicles. vehicles.
• </c> safely remove those abandoned vehicles. safely remove those abandoned vehicles.
• These vehicles cannot later be reregistered under any other vehicle category.
• They must use specialty vehicles.
• </c><03:58:14.479><c> It</c> be displayed on motor vehicles. It be displayed on motor vehicles.

Transcript Highlights:

• G., compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance; motor vehicles registered in other jurisdictions; impoundment
• House Bill by Representative Riser, motor vehicle gifts, donation of motor vehicles, 254.
• for securing abandoned vehicles, 264.
• the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles.
• ; duties of the office of motor vehicles, 885.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're almost standard vehicles, right?
• And so I started looking into the situation. almost standard Vehicles right I mean almost standard Vehicles
• </c><00:26:34.840><c> by</c> different between or the vehicle by different between or the vehicle by
• </c> interaction with those smaller vehicles interaction with those smaller vehicles and<00:34:10.919
• and understand these vehicles are and understand these vehicles are they're<00:34:12.520><c> not</c>

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee heard testimony on House Bill 375, which would allow municipalities to designate certain road segments for ATV travel, create maps and signage for those routes, set seasonal limits, and require certain equipment on ATVs such as lights, a horn, flashers, and directional signals. The sponsor, Rep. Dan Maguire, said the bill is intended to support tourism and give towns a structured, optional way to permit ATV use on roads, not to override existing uses. Members asked about possible overlap with agricultural vehicle rules, golf carts, speed limits, and whether the bill could allow ATV use on busier roads or expressways; the sponsor said he did not intend to interfere with existing lawful uses and believed golf carts would only be included if they met the relevant statutory requirements. NHDOT State Maintenance Engineer Alan Hennessy said the department had concerns with language exempting municipalities and the Bureau of Trails from the permitting process, arguing that the existing permit system provides needed review, public notice, and signage requirements. He also raised questions about road funding and maintenance if ATVs were allowed on state highways. Fish and Game Captain Michael Eastman testified that his commission opposed the bill as written, citing concerns about the ATV definition, the distinction between ATVs, UTVs, and other OHRVs, and the potential impact on state highways and road maintenance. He said towns can already open roads to OHRV use under existing law, and he noted that accident data for road use would generally be handled by local police or State Police rather than Fish and Game. Craig Reny, chief of the Bureau of Trails, said the current Bureau of Trails/DOT permit process for highway crossings and connectors works well and is used to ensure safety through engineering review. He said his bureau was not taking a position on the bill but wanted to clarify that existing procedures already address many of the issues the bill appears to cover. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, before an automated vehicle company...
• ><c> a</c><00:15:05.000><c> powerful</c> Autonomous vehicles can be a powerful Autonomous vehicles can
• So, some people vehicles this session.
• </c> autonomous vehicles here, lawnmowers. autonomous vehicles here, lawnmowers.
• And then you got the mowing vehicle, and you have three vehicles behind that, you have a vehicle ahead

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if you don't have the vehicle, if you don't have access to a vehicle, meaning like in prison.
• If you don't have access to a vehicle, meaning like in prison, so not just I don't have a vehicle, but
• So you can get around a community without having access to a vehicle.
• So you can get around a community without having access to a vehicle.
• Having a vehicle and being able to drive a vehicle on our road is a privilege, a vehicle.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 2672 (Hart), which would require the California Energy Commission to set parameters for using an existing waiver process to allow non-CARBOB gasoline during fuel supply shocks, with fees used to offset emissions and help fund cleaner vehicles. Supporters said the bill would reduce gas price spikes and provide needed flexibility in emergencies; opponents, including the Western States Petroleum Association and union refinery representatives, argued it would function as a tax, create market uncertainty, and could undermine in-state refining and fuel-system compliance. Members raised concerns about affordability, refinery impacts, and delegation of authority to CARB/CEC, while the author said the bill was intended to be cost-neutral and protect consumers. The committee initially held the bill open and later advanced it on a divided vote. AB 2761 (Petrie-Norris) was heard next and would modernize California crash data reporting by creating a single statewide electronic system for fatal and injury crash reports. The author and AAA supported the measure, saying current paper-based reporting is slow, fragmented, and outdated, delaying safety improvements and federal funding opportunities. There was no registered opposition, and the bill moved forward unanimously to Appropriations. AB 1874 (Wilson) would prevent people convicted of certain serious driving offenses from serving a license suspension while incarcerated, so the suspension would begin when they are actually back on the road. Supporters, including law enforcement and roadway safety groups, said current practice makes suspensions meaningless and weakens accountability for dangerous drivers. Some members questioned whether the bill creates a double penalty, but the author argued the measure is limited to the most serious offenses and ensures the suspension has real public safety effect. The committee approved the bill on a strong vote. The committee also passed its consent calendar bills, and several measures were held open for later vote tallying before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our detectives come from the trooper ranks, our commercial vehicle specialists, and on and on.
• So it'll prevent unnecessary delays when vehicles are being resold or transferred.
• Now, they don't register the vehicles sometimes.
• And if they choose not to register a vehicle, that's already in code.
• And if they choose not to register a vehicle, that's already in code. So... Mr. Chair. Follow up.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> traffic stops of motor vehicle drivers. traffic stops of motor vehicle drivers.
• </c> vehicles in an irresponsible manner. vehicles in an irresponsible manner.
• </c> electric electrically powered vehicle. electric electrically powered vehicle.
• . vehicles. vehicles.
• ><c> vehicles</c><01:46:44.800><c> being</c> unregistered motor vehicles being unregistered motor vehicles

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:57.920><c> driver's</c> In that court case, the vehicle driver's In that court case, the vehicle
• </c><00:11:43.600><c> speeding</c> disturbing footage of vehicles speeding disturbing footage of vehicles
• </c><00:16:18.840><c> in</c> lights flash, approaching vehicles in lights flash, approaching vehicles
• I got obviously vehicles have to stop.
• </c><00:21:22.560><c> are</c> four-lane road where as vehicles are four-lane road where as vehicles are

Transcript Highlights:

• So that could be through the vehicle.
• So this is, it needs to be mounted or it needs to be through the vehicle?
• There's a very inexpensive solution for people that have older vehicles.
• There's a very inexpensive solution for people that have older vehicles.
• Why on earth do you need a laptop that faces the driver in a non-emergency vehicle?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The committee first reviewed the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget proposal for transportation, tourism, and economic development, which totals about $18 billion and includes major funding for the Department of Transportation work program, Visit Florida, affordable housing, library/cultural/historical initiatives, National Guard tuition assistance, and Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles needs. Members approved staff technical adjustments and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then heard and approved CS/SB 666, which creates a specialty license plate for the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, with proceeds supporting scholarships and school academic, athletic, and arts programs. CS/SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, drew extensive testimony from the sponsor, law enforcement, advocates, and victims’ families. Supporters argued it would create a clearer, easier-to-enforce prohibition on holding a wireless device while driving and help reduce crashes and deaths; some senators raised concerns about enforcement, privacy, and impacts on drivers with older vehicles, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1408, designating memorial highways for Tampa Police Officer Jesse Madsen and Charlotte County Sergeant Elio Diaz, and SB 1516, which would create the International Aerospace Innovation Fund administered by Space Florida to support partnerships between Florida and international aerospace companies. Both bills had supportive testimony and no opposition noted. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 3432 will then be picked back up and turned into the safety and security package vehicle.
• Senate File 3432 will then be picked back up and turned into the safety and security package vehicle.
• </c> security package vehicle. security package vehicle.
• </c> the insignia from emergency vehicles the insignia from emergency vehicles sold<00:15:52.800><c>
• ,</c><00:18:07.800><c> emergency</c> public safety vehicles, emergency public safety vehicles, emergency

Committee: Senate Finance