SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-39

No. SB 488

Transportation
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SPONSOR
Massullo
FILED BY
Ralph E. Massullo, Jr. — District 11, Republican
EFFECTIVE
10/1/2026

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Transportation; Requiring licensing, rather than registration, of motor carriers; revising reporting periods and due dates for motor fuel use tax returns; revising the apparent amount of property damage that requires the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash to notify law enforcement of the crash; defining the term “REAL ID driver license or identification card”; providing that the use of a license plate frame or decorative border device is not prohibited under specified conditions, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Expands motor fuel tax to alternative fuels and heavy vehicles.

The bill broadens the motor fuel tax base to include electricity, hydrogen, and natural gas, and covers recreational vehicles over 26,000 pounds. This shifts tax liability from gasoline-only to all propulsion sources for heavy commercial and recreational fleets.

It requires all qualified motor vehicles to carry specific minimum liability insurance based on their weight. This creates a new mandatory insurance duty for operators of heavy trucks and large recreational vehicles on Florida roads.

Municipalities and counties are prohibited from limiting the number of communications facility permits or requiring cash deposits. Local governments can no longer restrict telecom providers based on project size or open permit counts.

Drivers may use license plate frames and decorative borders without penalty, provided they do not obscure the plate number or validation sticker. This removes a previous prohibition on using decorative accessories around license plates.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Definition of qualified motor vehicle expanded majors. 207.002(11)

AIBroadens the tax base by defining the covered vehicle as any vehicle with two axles and a gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds, or three or more axles, and explicitly includes recreational vehicles.

“any vehicle not owned or operated by a governmental entity which uses motor fuel on the public highways; and which has two axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross” bill text, line 180 →
§ 2 Motor fuel definition expanded to include alternative fuels majors. 207.002(7)

AIExpands the tax base to include electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, and other alternative fuels used to propel a qualified motor vehicle, not just gasoline.

“any fuel placed in the fuel supply storage unit of a qualified motor vehicle, including an alternative fuel such as pure methanol, ethanol, or other alcohol; a blend of 85 percent” bill text, line 158 →
§ 3 License Plate Frames Permitted majors. 320.061(2)

AIAllows drivers to use license plate frames and decorative borders without penalty, provided they do not obscure the plate number or validation sticker.

“The use of a license plate frame or decorative border around a license plate is not an offense under this section, provided that the frame or border does not obscure the visibility” bill text, line 550 →
§ 4 Dealer Franchise Succession Rights majors. 320.64(16)(a)

AIProhibits motor vehicle dealers from refusing to accept the succession of a franchise agreement by a legal heir or devisee, unless specific conditions are met.

“the applicant or licensee prevents or refuses to accept the succession to any interest in a franchise agreement by any legal heir or devisee” bill text, line 644 →
§ 5 Dealer Franchise Transfer Restrictions majors. 320.643(1)(a)

AIProhibits licensees from preventing or penalizing motor vehicle dealers from selling or transferring their franchise agreements, subject to specific exceptions.

“a licensee may not, by contract or otherwise, fail or refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize or attempt to refuse to give effect to, prohibit, or penalize any”
§ 6 Communications Facility Permit Restrictions majors. 337.401(3)(a)

AIProhibits municipalities or counties from requiring providers to locate or survey facilities other than their own, or to pay cash deposits as a condition of issuing a permit.

“A municipality or county may not require that a provider locate or perform a survey of any facilities except its own or any right of-way boundary” bill text, line 1091 →
§ 7 Communications Facility Permit Limits majors. 337.401(3)(a)

AIProhibits municipalities or counties from limiting the number of permits for communications facilities, provided the permit is closed out within 45 days after work completion.

“A municipality or county may not limit the number of permits in any way, including by project size or by limiting the number of open permits or applications” bill text, line 1101 →
§ 8 Mandatory Insurance for Qualified Motor Vehicles majors. 627.7415

AIRequires qualified motor vehicles to carry specific minimum liability insurance based on weight.

“qualified motor vehicles as defined in s. 207.002 operated upon the roads and highways of this state must be insured”
TIMELINE
4/22/2026
Chapter No. 2026-39 , companion bill(s) passed, see SB 490 (Ch. 2026-40 )
4/21/2026
Approved by Governor
4/21/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/11/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/11/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 813
3/11/2026
Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (078509) -SJ 813
3/9/2026
In returning messages
3/9/2026
Amendment 078509 engrossed amendment (replaces 073989, 106271,...
3/9/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 108, NAYS 1
3/9/2026
Read 3rd time
3/9/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/9/2026
Amendment 073989 adopted as amended
3/9/2026
Amendment 106271 adopted
3/9/2026
Amendment 520293 adopted
3/9/2026
Amendment 312799 adopted
3/9/2026
Read 2nd time
3/5/2026
1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
3/5/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/9/2026)
3/5/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/19/2026
In Messages
2/19/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 356
2/19/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 350
2/19/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 350
2/19/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (458674) -SJ 350
2/19/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 350
2/17/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26
2/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/5/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 15 NAYS 0
2/2/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/21/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
1/21/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism,...
1/16/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Transportation,...
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and...
1/12/2026
Favorable by Transportation; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Transportation, 01/12/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building
12/1/2025
Referred to Transportation; Appropriations Committee on...
11/13/2025
Filed
32 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 207.001
+0 / −5
s. 207.002
+175 / −154
s. 207.004
+260 / −592
s. 207.005
+112 / −67
s. 207.007
+57 / −84
s. 207.019
+47 / −26
STAFF ANALYSES
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