SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 581

Sovereign Immunity of Public Transit Contractors in Tort Actions
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SPONSOR
Busatta
FILED BY
Demi Busatta — District 114, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

Filed under Legal.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Sovereign Immunity of Public Transit Contractors in Tort Actions; Designates certain public transit contractors & people acting on behalf of such contractors as agents of state for purposes of provisions relating to sovereign immunity in tort actions; defines "public transit."

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Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Extends sovereign immunity protections to public transit contractors.

A private company that runs public transit service under a government contract -- along with its employees, agents, and subcontractors -- is now treated as an agent of the state for lawsuits over its conduct.

That status applies only while the contractor is acting within the contract's scope and following the guidelines it or state rules set. Outside that, ordinary liability rules would still apply.

The shield is not limited to the contracting company. It reaches every employee, agent, or subcontractor doing the work, as long as they act within the contract's guidelines.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Transit contractors deemed state agents for lawsuits majors. 768.28

AIA private contractor providing public transit service under a government contract, along with its employees, agents, and subcontractors, is treated as an agent of the state -- not an independent private company -- for purposes of the state's sovereign-immunity statute, whenever it acts within the contract's scope and guidelines.

“is considered an agent of the state while acting within the scope of and pursuant to guidelines established in said contract or by rule” bill text, line 23 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/2/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 768.28
+70 / −0