The 2018 Florida Legislative Session is off to a good start for public safety on public roads.
HB 33, texting while driving as a primary offense, passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee with none opposed.
HB 117, the Move Over bill to include vulnerable road users had equal success, but needs a little more explanation. Prior to the bill being passed with none opposed, Rep Stone filed what is called a strike-all amendment. This means that all of the language of the original bill was deleted and replaced with new language. This new language amounts to 10 pages found here:
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=063613.docx&DocumentType=Amendments&BillNumber=0117&Session=2018
In essence, it was determined that using the statute definition of vulnerable road users would meet opposition. So, with careful and thoughtful research from Rep Stone and House staff, the bill is now more focused on bike/ped and therefore in no danger of debate to change a current definition or statute for vulnerable road users. Please take a moment to read the new bill as we move forward in support.
We encourage you to also take a moment to send a thank you to the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee for their support of HB 33 and HB 117. You can see who voted how on the House website: HB 33 and HB 117. You may also note the co-sponsors of each bill. If your House Representative is not a co-sponsor, please ask them to co-sponsor and support HB 33 and HB 117.
The next committee for HB 117 is House Government Accountability. Please make contact to ask for support. If you are in District 79, please ask Chair Caldwell to put HB 117 on the agenda.
The next committee for HB 33 is House Judiciary Committee. Please make contact to ask for support. If you are in District 65, please ask Chair Sprowls to put HB 33 on the agenda.
Equally important are the Senate companion bills. SB 90, the Senate companion bill to HB 33 to make texting while driving a primary offense, passed the Senate Transportation Committee without objection. Please take a moment to send a thank you to the members of the SenateTransportation Committee for their support of SB 90. For those in District 2, please add a special message to Chair Gainer to put SB 116 (companion bill to HB 117) on the agenda.
Next stop for SB 90 is Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development. Please make contact to ask for support. If you are in District 10, please ask Chair Simpson to put SB 90 on the agenda.
We encourage our members to stay engaged, to keep asking elected officials for their support and most importantly, to thank them for their efforts.
You can follow the 2018 FL legislative session for yourself by visting each chamber's website and utilizing the TRACKING feature:
Florida Senate
Florida House
Keep fighting the good fight with FBA!
For a more comprehensive legislative update, please go to our membership website: Documents/Legislative Platform/2018 FL Legislative Updates
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