Appropriations committee advances wide-ranging transportation package including advanced air mobility and airport rules

Senators on the Appropriations Committee reported favorably on CS for CS for CS SB 1662, a broad Department of Transportation package that creates a Florida Transportation Academy, establishes an intermodal logistics working group and adds policy changes for airports, seaports, rural transit and advanced air mobility (AAM).

The bill, presented on the floor by Senator Collins, would remove the sunset on an aggregate supply-chain grant program, create the Florida Transportation Research Institute, prioritize maintenance over capacity projects at airports and seaports, and establish a rural transit operating block grant program. The measure also includes a provision that restricts public-transportation funding for projects inconsistent with state energy policy.

Why it matters: SB 1662 ties workforce development, logistics planning and infrastructure priorities into one package. Supporters said the bill provides tools for long-term planning and for working with small businesses and educational institutions to expand transportation-sector careers.

Supporters and amendments: Senator Collins explained a timely-filed amendment creating an intermodal logistics center working group and another amendment that prevents publicly owned airports from charging landing fees for flight training and pilot certification when those operations are conducted by an accredited nonprofit institution in the state that offers a four-year aviation program. A late-file amendment allowed veterans more flexibility in how the “DV” designation appears on license plates.

Public comment and concerns: Tiffany King, speaking for the Florida Airports Council, said the council generally supports the bill but asked to “work with Senator Collins related to the prohibition of charging landing fees to public universities,” noting a legal concern: the council’s legal analysis suggested the landing-fee prohibition “could violate federal grant assurances ‘24 and ‘5,” and requested additional cleanup of the language.

Questions from members focused on AAM and local control. Senator Harrell pressed for specifics about where vertiports could be sited and what standards they would contain; Senator Collins replied that she is “a proponent” of AAM, wants multiple subject-matter experts at the table and expects ongoing discussion about siting and standards, saying “it should not just be one person who makes those decisions.”

Procedure and outcome: The committee adopted the Collins amendments and reported the bill favorably. No final floor amendments or votes to change policy direction were recorded in committee beyond the amendments described.