SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 184

Seaport Security
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SPONSOR
Garcia
FILED BY
Ileana Garcia — District 36, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Transportation

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Seaport Security; Requiring seaports to maintain an onsite fire station that is staffed and operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; requiring fire stations to have a certified hazardous materials response team with specified capabilities; requiring seaports to maintain a specified number of operational fireboats able to respond to fires and hazardous materials incidents in specified areas, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires seaports to staff fire stations and keep fireboats ready.

Seaports covered by the state's security law must run an onsite fire station recognized by the State Fire Marshal, staffed and operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a certified hazardous materials team able to deploy immediately anywhere on seaport property.

Each covered seaport must also keep at least two fireboats in service, staffed and equipped to fight fires and handle hazardous materials incidents on or near the port's navigable waters.

The State Fire Marshal, working with the Florida Ports Council, will set statewide minimum standards for staffing, equipment, training, and mutual aid coordination with neighboring responders.

A seaport that falls short faces fines from the Department of Financial Services, loss of eligibility for state port funding, or suspension of its operations.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 24/7 onsite fire station required at every covered seaport majors. 311.12

AIEach covered seaport must maintain an onsite fire station recognized by the State Fire Marshal, and that station must be staffed, equipped, and operational at all hours, every day of the year.

“A fire department station must be staffed, equipped, and operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” bill text, line 26 →
§ 2 Certified hazmat response team required at each fire station majors. 311.12

AIA seaport's fire station must include a certified hazardous materials response team able to deploy immediately to any incident anywhere on the seaport property, not just at one facility.

“A fire station must have a certified hazardous materials response team capable of immediate deployment to any incident on seaport property.” bill text, line 28 →
§ 3 Minimum of two operational fireboats required majors. 311.12

AIEach covered seaport must keep at least two fireboats in service, staffed and equipped to respond to fires and hazardous materials incidents on or adjacent to the port's navigable waters.

“Each seaport subject to this section shall maintain a minimum of two operational fireboats” bill text, line 31 →
§ 4 Fines, funding loss, or shutdown for noncompliant seaports majors. 311.12

AIA seaport that fails to meet the new fire-safety requirements can be fined by the Department of Financial Services, denied state port funding, or have its operations suspended, at the department's discretion.

“failure to comply with this subsection may result in fines imposed by the Department of Financial Services” bill text, line 44 →
§ 5 State Fire Marshal must adopt statewide minimum standards moderates. 311.12

AIThe Division of State Fire Marshal, consulting the Florida Ports Council, must write rules covering staffing levels and qualifications, equipment including fireboats, hazmat training, and mutual aid coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.

“The Division of State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Florida Ports Council, shall adopt rules establishing minimum standards” bill text, line 10 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Transportation
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Transportation; Appropriations Committee on...
10/14/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 311.12
+196 / −0
s. 311.12
+0 / −0