House panel advances transportation omnibus bill with speed‑limit, e‑micromobility and flooded‑road provisions

The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee on Feb. 1 reported CS/ HB 567 favorably after amending the bill to add a prohibition on driving that creates an excessive wake on flooded streets and to replace device‑specific traffic signal language with a technology‑neutral standard.

Representative McFarland, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure packages multiple transportation changes including a 5 mph increase to certain speed limits, provisions allowing local regulation of electric bicycles and scooters, a permission for pregnant motorists to park in handicap spaces, authority for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to purchase land in advance of road projects, and a requirement that FDOT consider elevating roads during capacity projects. McFarland also said the bill revises contracting procedures intended to reduce red tape and changes how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) prioritize projects by requiring quality metrics. The bill also repeals the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council.

A floor amendment by Representative Cross added a new section to Florida statute to prohibit operating a vehicle, vessel or other conveyance at a speed that creates an excessive wake on a flooded or inundated street or highway. Representative Cross said the change was “meant to address a lot of the concerns by homeowners and businesses when roads are flooded and people drive too fast, pushing water into their properties, leading to irreplaceable damage.” The amendment was adopted without recorded opposition.

Another amendment, explained by Representative Gentry, replaced language that would have required traffic management platforms to use “radar camera fusion” with a directive to use “state‑of‑the‑art technology,” a change intended to future‑proof signal and pedestrian protection standards as the underlying technology evolves. That amendment was also adopted.

There was no public opposition during the committee stop. After debate was waived, the committee voted to report the bill favorably. The roll call recorded a unanimous affirmative showing among members present.

The bill touches multiple areas of state transportation policy — from vehicle and micromobility regulation to MPO planning — but does not itself appropriate funds. It directs FDOT and MPOs to adopt new practices and metrics and makes statutory changes affecting local and state roles in roadway projects.

The committee did not adopt any language on electric vehicle taxation that had been considered earlier in the bill and removed language about private‑use airports that had been in prior drafts, Representative McFarland said during the explanation. The committee also left in a change updating the composition of the MDX board (Miami‑Dade Expressway Authority).