Transportation

Created the Florida Transportation Research Institute to drive cutting-edge research, innovation, and workforce development in transportation.

Established a rural transit operating block grant program to be administered by the Department of Transportation.

Modified funding eligibility for spaceport and commercial shipbuilding projects under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program.

Updated airport certification requirements, requiring private airports of public interest to obtain certificates before allowing aircraft operations.

Created a Florida Transportation Academy within the department to coordinate workforce development programs with corrections, juvenile justice, and veterans' organizations.

Added requirements for airports to provide the Department of Transportation with opportunity to use airport property during declared state of emergencies.

Changed small business definition threshold from $25 million to $15 million for road and bridge contracts and from $10 million to $6.5 million for professional services.

Updated definitions for special mobile equipment and intermodal logistics centers to reflect current industry practices.

Set specific deadlines for intermodal logistics center working group report submission by January 1, 2027, with repeal of the working group provision on June 30, 2027.

Modified enforcement mechanisms for traffic control device violations and airport licensing requirements.

Created a new rural transit operating block grant program to be administered by the Department of Transportation, with annual allocations from the State Transportation Trust Fund.

Authorized funding for spaceport and space industry-related facility projects and commercial shipbuilding and manufacturing facility projects under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program.

Established the Florida Transportation Research Institute as a consortium of higher education professionals to drive research, innovation, and workforce development in transportation.

Changed the Florida Transportation Commission membership requirements to include expertise in higher education, transportation, or workforce development industries, with at least three members required to have such expertise.

Required private airports of public interest to obtain a certificate from the Department of Transportation before allowing aircraft operations, with existing airports having until July 1, 2030 to comply.

Prohibited publicly owned airports from charging landing fees established on or after January 1, 2025, for aircraft operations by accredited nonprofit institutions offering 4-year collegiate aviation programs.

Changed the requirement for commercial service airports to establish and maintain a comprehensive airport infrastructure program, with certification required annually beginning November 1, 2025.

Created a new advanced air mobility system plan requirement, directing the Department of Transportation to develop a viable plan in coordination with the Department of Commerce.

Modified the bond requirement for construction contracts, allowing the Secretary of Transportation to require a surety bond in an amount less than the awarded contract price at their discretion.

Repealed sections relating to socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises and notice requirements, replacing them with a focus on small business participation.

Required commercial service airports to provide quarterly updates of certain information to the department, rather than annual updates.

Established the Florida Transportation Academy within the Department of Transportation to coordinate workforce development programs for transportation industry jobs.

Created a new definition for 'intermodal logistics center' to include inland ports and facilities serving as points of intermodal transfer of freight.

Modified the definition of 'small business' for highway contracts from less than $25 million to less than $15 million in gross receipts.

Replaced disadvantaged business enterprise and minority business programs with a business development program focused on small businesses in the department's performance evaluation measures.

Created a new rural transit operating block grant program to be administered by the Department of Transportation, with annual allocations from the State Transportation Trust Fund.

Established the Florida Transportation Research Institute as a consortium of higher education institutions to drive research, innovation, and workforce development in transportation.

Expanded eligible projects under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program to include spaceport and commercial shipbuilding facilities on seaport property.

Changed small business definition thresholds from $25 million to $15 million for road/bridge contracts and $10 million to $6.5 million for professional services.

Required commercial service airports to establish and maintain comprehensive airport infrastructure programs with annual certifications and detailed reporting.

Prohibited publicly owned airports from charging landing fees for flight training operations by accredited nonprofit aviation institutions.

Required airports to provide the Department of Transportation with opportunity to use airport property during declared state emergencies.

Mandated quarterly updates of certain information on commercial service airport websites instead of annual updates.

Created new requirements for advanced air mobility planning, including designation of subject matter experts and development of a viable system plan.

Added definition of 'intermodal logistics center' and created an intermodal logistics center working group to coordinate planning and development across the state.

Repealed provisions related to disadvantaged business enterprises and replaced with focus on small business participation in transportation contracts.

Set specific deadlines including January 1, 2027 for intermodal logistics center working group report, and July 1, 2030 for private airport certification requirements.

Created three new assistant secretary positions with specific titles (Chief Operations, Chief Finance and Administration, and Chief Strategic Development) and an Executive Director of Transportation Technology.

Established the Florida Transportation Research Institute as a consortium of universities to drive research, innovation, and workforce development in transportation.

Made spaceport and space industry-related facility projects and commercial shipbuilding/manufacturing facilities eligible for grant funding under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program.

Changed the Strategic Intermodal System supply chain demands funding from a requirement to a may provision, allowing up to $20 million annually from 2023-2024 through 2028.

Added requirements for commercial service airports to establish comprehensive infrastructure programs, submit annual certifications, and maintain detailed public transparency on budgets, contracts, and employee information.

Updated airport certificate requirements, requiring private airports of public interest to obtain certificates by July 1, 2030, if they were operating before July 1, 2025.

Created new requirements for advanced air mobility planning, including designation of subject matter experts and development of a viable advanced air mobility system plan.

Revised the Florida Transportation Commission's duties to include monitoring transit entities receiving funding and conducting periodic reviews of agency operations and budgets.

Changed the definition of 'small business' for contracting purposes, lowering the gross receipts threshold from $25 million to $15 million for road/bridge contracts and from $10 million to $6.5 million for professional services.

Repealed statutes relating to high-occupancy-vehicle lanes and certain disadvantaged business enterprise notice requirements and punishment for false representation.

Created three new assistant secretary positions (Chief Operations, Chief Finance and Administration, Chief Strategic Development) and an Executive Director of Transportation Technology, all exempt from career service.

Established the Florida Transportation Research Institute as a consortium of state universities to drive research, innovation, and workforce development in transportation.

Expanded eligible projects for state funding to include spaceport facilities and commercial shipbuilding/manufacturing facilities on seaport property.

Changed focus from disadvantaged business enterprise participation to small business participation in state transportation contracts.

Requires private airports of public interest to obtain department certification before allowing aircraft operations, with a compliance deadline of July 1, 2030.

Added requirement for commercial service airports to post financial, operational, and employee information on their websites for public transparency.

Created new advanced air mobility provisions requiring the department to develop a viable system plan and address vertiport needs.

Repealed high-occupancy vehicle lane provisions and related funding restrictions.

Changed strategic intermodal system supply chain funding from a requirement to an authorization, allowing flexibility in annual allocations.

Added new definitions for advanced air mobility terms including 'advanced air mobility system plan' and 'viable advanced air mobility system plan'.