THE BILL ITSELF
SB 528
Manufacturing
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 528 By Senator Truenow 13-00485B-26 2026528__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to manufacturing; amending s. 20.60,
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F.S.; revising the duties of the Department of
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Commerce; creating s. 20.602, F.S.; establishing the
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Chief Manufacturing Officer among the senior
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leadership of the department for a specified purpose;
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providing that the Chief Manufacturing Officer is
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appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
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Secretary of Commerce; providing the duties of the
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Chief Manufacturing Officer; requiring all state and
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local governmental entities to assist the Chief
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Manufacturing Officer within certain constraints;
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requiring the department to prepare a specified report
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and submit it to the Governor and the Legislature by a
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specified date, and every 2 years thereafter; creating
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s. 288.103, F.S.; creating the Florida Manufacturers’
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Workforce Development Grant Program within the
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department; providing that the grant program is under
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the direction of the Chief Manufacturing Officer in
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consultation with the National Institute of Standards
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and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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organization in this state; providing a purpose for
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the grant program; requiring the department, in
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coordination with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and
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the National Institute of Standards and Technology
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Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in
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this state, to review submitted applications and to
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select specified projects; providing that the
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department has sole discretion in final grant awards;
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requiring the department, in coordination with the
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Chief Manufacturing Officer and the National Institute
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of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
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Partnership organization in this state, to establish
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and publish ranking metrics for reviewing and awarding
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grants; providing guidelines for such metrics;
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requiring that priority be given to projects that meet
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certain criteria; authorizing applicants to seek
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funding for a specified purpose; prohibiting such
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funding from being used for certain expenses;
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requiring the department to administer the grant
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awards from the Economic Development Trust Fund;
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requiring the department to annually provide a list to
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the public of specific information regarding the grant
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program; requiring the department to include certain
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information in its annual incentives report;
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authorizing the department to adopt rules; creating s.
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288.1031, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
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defining terms; creating the Florida Manufacturing
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Promotional Campaign within the department; requiring
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the Chief Manufacturing Officer to administer the
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campaign in coordination with the National Institute
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of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
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Partnership organization in this state; providing the
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purpose of the campaign; requiring the department to
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take certain actions to promote the campaign;
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requiring persons who participate in the campaign to
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register annually with the department; requiring the
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department to establish by rule the form and manner of
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registration; requiring the department to adopt rules
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to implement and administer the campaign; requiring
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the department annually to create a specified report
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and submit it to the Governor and the Legislature as
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part of its annual report; providing an effective
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date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (4) of
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section 20.60, Florida Statutes, to read:
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20.60 Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.—
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(4) The purpose of the department is to assist the Governor
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in working with the Legislature, state agencies, business
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leaders, and economic development professionals to formulate and
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implement coherent and consistent policies and strategies
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designed to promote economic opportunities for all Floridians.
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The department is the state’s chief agency for business
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recruitment and expansion and economic development. To
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accomplish such purposes, the department shall:
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(m) Encourage and oversee manufacturing in this state in
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coordination with the Chief Manufacturing Officer.
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Section 2. Section 20.602, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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20.602 Chief Manufacturing Officer.—
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(1) There is designated among the senior leadership of the
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Department of Commerce a Chief Manufacturing Officer for the
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purpose of supporting the manufacturing ecosystem statewide. The
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Chief Manufacturing Officer is appointed by and serves at the
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pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.
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(2) The Chief Manufacturing Officer shall do all of the
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following:
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(a) Serve as a subject-matter expert for the state on
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issues related to manufacturing.
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(b) Promote and coordinate manufacturing efforts in this
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state and identify gaps across state-supported activities.
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(c) Provide strategic direction for interagency and cross
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disciplinary initiatives to promote and support manufacturing in
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this state.
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(d) Work with federal, state, regional, and local
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governmental entities and nongovernmental entities to align
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manufacturing priorities.
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(e) Engage with state agencies and water management
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districts to create processes, programs, decision frameworks,
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and reporting mechanisms intended to support manufacturing in
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this state.
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(f) Collaborate with the Department of Education, school
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districts, charter schools, technical colleges, state colleges,
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and regional workforce development boards to promote
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manufacturing as a career path. Such collaboration must include
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all of the following:
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1. Supporting curriculum development and career awareness
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initiatives in elementary and middle schools, including
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classroom resources, career fairs, and outreach activities
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designed to inspire interest in manufacturing.
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2. Establishing technology demonstration centers, work
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based learning opportunities, and exposure to manufacturing
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careers through partnerships with guidance counselors and
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recognized career exploration programs, including Project Lead
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The Way.
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3. Preserving and expanding manufacturing programs in high
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schools, promoting dual enrollment and industry certifications,
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and ensuring that course selection and grade point average
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weighting policies encourage students to pursue, rather than
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discourage them from pursuing, manufacturing tracks.
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4. Funding and supporting regional manufacturing training
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centers to provide multiple entry points for careers in
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manufacturing, including awareness initiatives for
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underrepresented populations and individuals reentering the
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workforce.
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5. Reenergizing the marketing and promotion of
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manufacturing careers in coordination with the Florida
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Manufacturing Promotional Campaign created in s. 288.1031, using
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messaging tailored to the interests and language of today’s
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youth.
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(3) All state and local governmental entities shall assist
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the Chief Manufacturing Officer to the extent such assistance is
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consistent with law and with budgetary constraints.
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(4) The department shall prepare a report, in consultation
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with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and the National Institute
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of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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organization in this state, regarding manufacturing efforts in
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this state. The department shall submit the report to the
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by December 15, 2027, and every 2 years
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thereafter. The report must include information regarding the
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strength and economic importance of the manufacturing industry
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in this state.
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Section 3. Section 288.103, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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288.103 Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Grant
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Program.—
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(1) The Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Grant
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Program is created within the Department of Commerce, under the
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direction of the Chief Manufacturing Officer in consultation
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with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
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Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in this state,
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to fund proposed projects, subject to appropriation by the
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Legislature, which support small manufacturers in this state
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with the deployment of new technologies or cybersecurity
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infrastructure and to strengthen the manufacturing workforce
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pipeline from elementary education through postsecondary
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training and workforce reentry.
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(2) The department, in coordination with the Chief
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Manufacturing Officer and the National Institute of Standards
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and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization
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in this state, shall review submitted applications and select
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projects for awards which create strategic investments in
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workforce training and education partnerships to facilitate the
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deployment of new technologies or cybersecurity infrastructure
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and to expand career awareness and preparation for manufacturing
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occupations across the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce
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training systems. Final grant awards are made at the sole
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discretion of the department.
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(3) The department, in coordination with the Chief
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Manufacturing Officer and the National Institute of Standards
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and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization
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in this state, shall establish and publish ranking metrics for
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reviewing grants and awarding them to applicants on a
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competitive basis. Metrics may include the number of employees,
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matching funds pledged by the applicant, and expected benefits
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from the grant award. Priority must be given to projects with
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innovative plans, advanced technologies, and development
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strategies that focus on workforce development for small
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manufacturers across this state and that include one or more of
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the following:
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(a) Establishment or expansion of regional manufacturing
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training centers.
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(b) Partnerships with the Department of Education, school
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districts, charter schools, technical colleges, and state
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colleges to support manufacturing curricula, dual enrollment,
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and industry certification programs.
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(c) Development of elementary and middle school career
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awareness programs, including technology demonstration centers
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and guidance counselor resources.
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(d) Outreach and training programs targeting
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underrepresented populations, including reentry populations.
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(e) Marketing and promotion of manufacturing careers
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consistent with s. 288.1031.
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(4) Applicants may seek funding for workforce development
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and operations; however, grant funding awarded under this
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section may not be used to pay salary and benefits or general
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business or office expenses. Grants awarded under the program
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shall be administered by the department from the Economic
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Development Trust Fund established in s. 288.095.
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(5) The department shall annually provide a list to the
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public of each project awarded a grant, the benefit of each
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project in meeting the goals and objectives of the program, and
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the current status of each project. The department shall include
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such information in the annual incentives report required under
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s. 288.0065.
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(6) The department may adopt rules to implement this
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section.
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Section 4. Section 288.1031, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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288.1031 Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign.—
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(1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
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campaign to increase consumer awareness of manufacturing
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activities in this state, to expand market exposure for
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manufactured products and goods in this state, and to inspire
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future generations of entrepreneurs, fabricators, and skilled
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workers to build and grow domestic businesses and manufacturing
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operations in this state. The Legislature further finds that a
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campaign that creates a partnership between the state and
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manufacturers in this state is necessary to promote and
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advertise manufactured products efficiently.
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(2) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Manufactured product” means any tangible personal
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property or consumer good, whether a durable or nondurable good,
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that has been processed, fabricated, or produced, often through
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industrial or mechanical processes. The term includes items sold
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or leased to consumers.
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(b) “Person” means an individual, a firm, a partnership, a
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corporation, an association, a business, a trust, a legal
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representative, or any other business unit.
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(3) The Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign is
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created within the department. The Chief Manufacturing Officer
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shall administer the campaign in coordination with the National
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Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
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Partnership organization in this state. The purpose of the
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campaign is to serve as a voluntary marketing program to promote
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manufacturing products and businesses in this state.
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(4) The department shall do all of the following:
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(a) Develop logos for the campaign and authorize the use of
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such logos by rule.
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(b) Create promotional materials for the campaign.
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(c) Register campaign participants.
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(d) Develop in-kind advertising programs.
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(e) Contract with media representatives for the purpose of
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dispersing promotional materials.
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(5) A person who produces manufactured products may
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participate in the campaign only by registering annually with
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the department. The department shall establish by rule the form
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and manner of registration.
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(6) The department shall adopt rules to implement and
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administer the campaign. By rule, the department shall establish
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the logos or product identifiers to be depicted for use in the
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campaign for advertising, publicizing, and promoting the sale of
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manufactured products in this state. The department shall also
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adopt rules necessary to ensure compliance with the campaign and
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to govern participant registration.
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(7) The department shall annually create a report on the
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success of the campaign, including detailed performance measures
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and outcomes, sources of in-kind advertising, contracts related
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to disbursement of promotional materials, the names of persons
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participating in the campaign, and other information for the
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campaign. The department shall submit the report as part of the
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annual report required in s. 20.602(4).
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Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.