FL H7061

Seaport Funding and Security: Increases minimum annual funding for the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program from $15 million to $25 million, creates a Seaport Security Advisory Committee, and establishes a Seaport Security Grant Program covering up to 75% of project costs for equipment, infrastructure, and cybersecurity measures.

Autonomous Vehicles and Truck Platooning: Allows any person with a valid driver license to operate an autonomous vehicle in autonomous mode (removing prior testing-only restrictions and the $5 million bond requirement), refines the autonomous vehicle definition, creates a new "driver-assistive truck platooning technology" definition, and directs DOT to study and potentially conduct a pilot project for truck platooning with a $5 million insurance requirement for participating manufacturers.

Commercial Megacycles: Authorizes municipalities and counties to permit operation of new pedal-powered, 5–15 passenger commercial megacycles on local roads, requiring drivers to be 18+ with a Class E license, a safety monitor onboard, and $1 million in commercial general liability insurance; exempts passengers from open container laws.

Airport Zoning Overhaul: Comprehensively restructures Chapter 333 governing airport zoning, requiring political subdivisions to adopt airport protection zoning regulations by July 1, 2017, expanding obstruction permit requirements within a 10-nautical-mile radius of airports, mandating land use compatibility measures addressing landfills, bird hazards, noise restrictions, and school construction near runways.

Airport Leases and Semitrailer Length: Extends maximum airport facility lease terms from 30 to 50 years and increases the maximum allowable semitrailer length from 53 to 57 feet.

Chloe's Law — Roadside Barriers: Requires DOT to install roadside barriers by June 30, 2018, at water bodies adjacent to state roads where drowning deaths resulted from motor vehicle accidents between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2016, and to report recommendations to the Legislature by January 3, 2017.

TBARTA Restructuring: Reduces the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority governing board from 16 to 15 voting members, extends the master plan update cycle from every 2 to every 5 years, renames the coordinating committee, and expands its constituent MPO membership to eight counties including Citrus and Polk.

State Infrastructure Bank and Small County Program Expansion: Broadens the State-Funded Infrastructure Bank to finance natural gas fuel production/distribution facilities at seaports and intermodal facilities and to provide emergency loans (up to 24–36 months) for storm-damaged transportation facilities; increases the Small County Outreach Program population threshold from 150,000 to 170,000.

Driver Licenses, ID Cards, and Registration: Extends address and name change notification deadlines from 10–20 days to 30 days, provides free ID cards to persons at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, delays enforcement of expired registration citations until the end of the owner's birth month, adds an optional international deaf/hard-of-hearing symbol on licenses, and requires an integrated organ donor registry link on the DHSMV website.

Pinellas Bayway Transfer, Brewery Signs, and Miscellaneous: Authorizes transfer of the Pinellas Bayway System to the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, directs DOT to install directional highway signs for qualifying breweries producing at least 2,500 barrels per year (at brewery expense), authorizes Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority revenue bonds for capital projects, and requires the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to evaluate the economic impact of DOT's work program by January 1, 2017. The act takes effect July 1, 2016.