SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1450

Transportation
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SPONSOR
Polsky
FILED BY
Tina Scott Polsky — District 30, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Transportation

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Transportation; Providing for a type one transfer of the duties and functions of the Division of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the Department of Law Enforcement; requiring the executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to be appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate; requiring the Joint Task Force on State Agency Law Enforcement Communications to include a representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles rather than the Division of the Florida Highway Patrol, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Moves the Highway Patrol from DHSMV to the Department of Law Enforcement.

The Division of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement leave the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the Department of Law Enforcement, along with their staff, records, and property.

DHSMV keeps only its Motorist Services division after the transfer, and its executive director must now be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate before taking office.

Every reference to "the department" in the Highway Patrol chapter of state law now means the Department of Law Enforcement, moving authority over wrecker rules, training fees, and rulemaking to that agency.

A state task force on law-enforcement communications will now include a general representative of DHSMV instead of one specifically drawn from the Florida Highway Patrol, which is leaving that department.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Transfers Highway Patrol and truck enforcement to FDLE majors. 20.06(1)

AIAll powers, duties, staff, records, property, and unspent funds of the Florida Highway Patrol and the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement move from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the Department of Law Enforcement in a single statutory transfer.

“from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the Department of Law Enforcement” bill text, line 5 →
§ 2 Requires Senate confirmation of DHSMV's executive director majors. 20.24

AIThe Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' executive director must be appointed by the Governor, with a majority vote of the Governor and Cabinet, and that appointment must then be confirmed by the Senate.

“The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.” bill text, line 46 →
§ 3 Redefines "department" in Highway Patrol law as FDLE majors. 321.011

AIA new definition provides that wherever chapter 321, which governs the Florida Highway Patrol, refers to "the department," that term now means the Department of Law Enforcement rather than the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

“the term "department" means the Department of Law Enforcement” bill text, line 138 →
§ 4 Leaves DHSMV with only its Motorist Services division moderates. 20.24

AIAfter the Highway Patrol and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement move out, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles retains just the Division of Motorist Services as its remaining internal division.

“Division of Motorist Services is established within the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles”
§ 5 Genericizes DHSMV's seat on a law-enforcement communications task force moderates. 282.709

AIA task force member seat previously described as a representative of the Florida Highway Patrol division of DHSMV is redefined as simply a representative of DHSMV as a whole, since the Highway Patrol is leaving that department.

“A representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles who shall be appointed by the executive director” bill text, line 18 →
§ 6 Moves auxiliary-officer equipment funding to FDLE's trust fund technicals. 321.245

AIUniforms and equipment for volunteer auxiliary Highway Patrol officers will be purchased from the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund instead of the fund previously designated for that purpose.

“in the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund” bill text, line 609 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Transportation
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Transportation; Appropriations Committee on...
1/8/2026
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 20.24
+58 / −39
s. 23.1231
+0 / −8
s. 282.709
+0 / −7
s. 321.011
+16 / −0
s. 20.201
+40 / −0
s. 110.205
+2 / −5