Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1348
By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator Trumbull
596-03167-25 20251348c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Department of Highway Safety
3 and Motor Vehicles; amending s. 319.24, F.S.;
4 authorizing tax collectors to deliver by mail or make
5 available at the tax collector’s office certificates
6 of title; amending s. 319.29, F.S.; providing that
7 certain applications may be fulfilled by the tax
8 collector acting as an authorized agent of the
9 department; amending s. 320.031, F.S.; authorizing the
10 department and tax collectors, as agents of the
11 department, to deliver certain documents, including
12 duplicate registration certificates, in person or by
13 mail; amending s. 320.0848, F.S.; requiring the
14 department to renew certain disabled parking permits
15 for a specified period without requiring certain
16 documentation; amending s. 322.02, F.S.; revising the
17 year by which the Legislature intends that the
18 transition of certain services to certain tax
19 collectors be completed; deleting a provision
20 authorizing such transition of services to appointed
21 charter county tax collectors on a limited basis;
22 providing that the tax collector is, rather than may
23 be, designated the exclusive agent of the department
24 for a specified purpose; amending s. 322.12, F.S.;
25 requiring certain driver license applicants to retake
26 certain examinations; amending s. 322.135, F.S.;
27 authorizing a tax collector to process certain
28 transactions using the department’s online license and
29 registration portal; authorizing a tax collector to
30 offer to a licensee or prospective licensee a certain
31 donation option; amending s. 322.251, F.S.;
32 authorizing the issuance of a Class E driver license
33 to certain persons, if eligible; amending s. 322.271,
34 F.S.; requiring the revocation of a restricted driving
35 privilege for a specified period in certain
36 circumstances; amending s. 322.66, F.S.; conforming a
37 cross-reference; providing an effective date.
38
39 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
40
41 Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 319.24, Florida
42 Statutes, is amended to read:
43 319.24 Issuance in duplicate; delivery; liens and
44 encumbrances.—
45 (2) A duly authorized person shall sign the original
46 certificate of title and each corrected certificate and, if
47 there are no liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle or
48 mobile home, as shown in the records of the department or as
49 shown in the application, must shall deliver the certificate to
50 the applicant or to another person as directed by the applicant
51 or person, agent, or attorney submitting such application. Tax
52 collectors, as authorized agents of the department, may deliver
53 original certificates of title and corrected certificates by
54 mail or make such certificates available to applicants at tax
55 collectors’ offices. The motor vehicle dealer license number
56 must be submitted to the department when a dealer applies for or
57 receives a duplicate title. The current odometer reading must be
58 submitted on an application for a duplicate title. If there are
59 one or more liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle or mobile
60 home, the certificate must shall be delivered by the department
61 to the first lienholder as shown by department records or to the
62 owner as indicated in the notice of lien filed by the first
63 lienholder pursuant to s. 319.27. If the notice of lien filed by
64 the first lienholder indicates that the certificate should be
65 delivered to the first lienholder, the department must shall
66 deliver to the first lienholder, along with the certificate, a
67 form to be subsequently used by the lienholder as a
68 satisfaction. If the notice of lien filed by the first
69 lienholder directs the certificate of title to be delivered to
70 the owner, then, upon delivery of the certificate of title by
71 the department to the owner, the department must shall deliver
72 to the first lienholder confirmation of the receipt of the
73 notice of lien and the date the certificate of title was issued
74 to the owner at the owner’s address shown on the notice of lien
75 and a form to be subsequently used by the lienholder as a
76 satisfaction. If the application for certificate shows the name
77 of a first lienholder different from the name of the first
78 lienholder as shown by the records of the department or if the
79 application does not show the name of a judgment lienholder as
80 shown by the records of the department, the certificate may
81 shall not be issued to any person until after all parties who
82 appear to hold a lien and the applicant for the certificate have
83 been notified of the conflict in writing by the department by
84 certified mail. If the parties do not amicably resolve the
85 conflict within 10 days from the date such notice was mailed,
86 then the department must shall serve notice in writing by
87 certified mail on all persons appearing to hold liens on that
88 particular vehicle, including the applicant for the certificate,
89 to show cause within 15 days from the date the notice is mailed
90 why it should not issue and deliver the certificate to the
91 person indicated in the notice of lien filed by the lienholder
92 whose name appears in the application as the first lienholder
93 without showing any lien or liens as outstanding other than
94 those appearing in the application or those which may have been
95 filed subsequent to the filing of the application for the
96 certificate. If, within the 15-day period, any person other than
97 the lienholder shown in the application or a party filing a
98 subsequent lien, in answer to such notice to show cause, appears
99 in person or by a representative, or responds in writing, and
100 files a written statement under oath that his or her lien on
101 that particular vehicle is still outstanding, the department may
102 shall not issue the certificate to anyone until after such
103 conflict has been settled by the lien claimants involved or by a
104 court of competent jurisdiction. If the conflict is not settled
105 amicably within 10 days of the final date for filing an answer
106 to the notice to show cause, the complaining party must shall
107 have 10 days to obtain a ruling, or a stay order, from a court
108 of competent jurisdiction; if no ruling or stay order is issued
109 and served on the department within the 10-day period, it must
110 shall issue the certificate showing no liens except those shown
111 in the application or thereafter filed to the original applicant
112 if there are no liens shown in the application and none are
113 thereafter filed, or to the person indicated in the notice of
114 lien filed by the lienholder whose name appears in the
115 application as the first lienholder if there are liens shown in
116 the application or thereafter filed. A duplicate certificate or
117 corrected certificate may shall only show such lien or liens as
118 were shown in the application and subsequently filed liens that
119 may be outstanding.
120 Section 2. Present subsection (4) of section 319.29,
121 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
122 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
123 319.29 Lost or destroyed certificates.—
124 (4) An application for a duplicate copy of a certificate of
125 title may be fulfilled by the tax collector acting as an
126 authorized agent of the department. Upon the applicant’s
127 request, the duplicate copy may be issued by the tax collector
128 and provided to the applicant at the tax collector’s office or
129 mailed by the tax collector to the applicant’s address.
130 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 320.031, Florida
131 Statutes, is amended to read:
132 320.031 Mailing or delivery of registration certificates,
133 license plates, and validation stickers.—
134 (1) The department and the tax collectors of the several
135 counties of the state, as agents of the department, may at the
136 request of the applicant deliver in person or use United States
137 mail service to deliver registration certificates and renewals
138 thereof, duplicate registration certificates, license plates,
139 mobile home stickers, and validation stickers to applicants.
140 Section 4. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
141 320.0848, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
142 320.0848 Persons who have disabilities; issuance of
143 disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for certain
144 providers of transportation services to persons who have
145 disabilities.—
146 (1)
147 (d) The department shall renew the disabled parking permit
148 of a any person certified as permanently disabled on the
149 previous application for a subsequent 4-year period without
150 requiring the person to provide another certificate of
151 disability or United States Department of Veterans Affairs Form
152 Letter 27-333, or its equivalent, as applicable. After such 4
153 year period, the department shall renew the disabled parking
154 permit if the person provides a certificate of disability issued
155 within the last 12 months pursuant to this subsection. A veteran
156 who has been previously evaluated and certified by the United
157 States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the
158 United States Armed Forces as permanently and totally disabled
159 from a service-connected disability may provide a United States
160 Department of Veterans Affairs Form Letter 27-333, or its
161 equivalent, issued within the last 12 months in lieu of a
162 certificate of disability.
163 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 322.02,
164 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
165 322.02 Legislative intent; administration.—
166 (1) The Legislature finds that over the past several years
167 the department and individual county tax collectors have entered
168 into contracts for the delivery of full and limited driver
169 license services where such contractual relationships best
170 served the public interest through state administration and
171 enforcement and local government implementation. It is the
172 intent of the Legislature that the complete transition of all
173 driver license issuance services to tax collectors who are
174 constitutional officers under s. 1(d), Art. VIII of the State
175 Constitution be completed no later than June 30, 2027 2015. The
176 transition of services to appointed charter county tax
177 collectors may occur on a limited basis as directed by the
178 department.
179 (5) The tax collector in and for his or her county is may
180 be designated the exclusive agent of the department to implement
181 and administer the provisions of this chapter as provided by s.
182 322.135.
183 Section 6. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 322.12,
184 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
185 322.12 Examination of applicants.—
186 (3)(a) For an applicant for a Class E driver license, such
187 examination must shall include all of the following:
188 1.(a) A test of the applicant’s eyesight given by the
189 driver license examiner designated by the department or by a
190 licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician.
191 2.(b) A test of the applicant’s hearing given by a driver
192 license examiner or a licensed physician.
193 3.(c) A test of the applicant’s ability to read and
194 understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing
195 traffic; his or her knowledge of the traffic laws of this state,
196 including laws regulating driving under the influence of alcohol
197 or controlled substances, driving with an unlawful blood-alcohol
198 level, and driving while intoxicated; and his or her knowledge
199 of the effects of alcohol and controlled substances upon persons
200 and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle while under the
201 influence of alcohol or controlled substances. At least 25
202 questions within the bank of test questions must address bicycle
203 and pedestrian safety.
204 4.(d) An actual demonstration of ability to exercise
205 ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor
206 vehicle.
207 (b) An applicant who is found to have cheated during, or to
208 have otherwise circumvented, any portion of the examination must
209 retake the examination.
210 (4)(a) The examination for an applicant for a commercial
211 driver license must shall include all of the following:
212 1. A test of the applicant’s eyesight given by a driver
213 license examiner designated by the department or by a licensed
214 ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician. and
215 2. A test of the applicant’s hearing given by a driver
216 license examiner or a licensed physician.
217 3. The examination shall also include A test of the
218 applicant’s ability to read and understand highway signs
219 regulating, warning, and directing traffic; his or her knowledge
220 of the traffic laws of this state pertaining to the class of
221 motor vehicle which he or she is applying to be licensed to
222 operate, including laws regulating driving under the influence
223 of alcohol or controlled substances, driving with an unlawful
224 blood-alcohol level, and driving while intoxicated; his or her
225 knowledge of the effects of alcohol and controlled substances
226 and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle after having consumed
227 alcohol or controlled substances; and his or her knowledge of
228 any special skills, requirements, or precautions necessary for
229 the safe operation of the class of vehicle which he or she is
230 applying to be licensed to operate.
231 4. In addition, the examination shall include An actual
232 demonstration of the applicant’s ability to exercise ordinary
233 and reasonable control in the safe operation of a motor vehicle
234 or combination of vehicles of the type covered by the license
235 classification which the applicant is seeking, including an
236 examination of the applicant’s ability to perform an inspection
237 of his or her vehicle.
238 (b)(a) The portion of the examination required under
239 subparagraph (a)4. which tests an applicant’s safe driving
240 ability shall be administered by the department or by an entity
241 authorized by the department to administer such examination,
242 pursuant to s. 322.56. Such examination shall be administered at
243 a location approved by the department.
244 (c)(b) A person who seeks to retain a hazardous-materials
245 endorsement must, upon renewal, pass the test for such
246 endorsement as specified in s. 322.57(1)(e), if the person has
247 not taken and passed the hazardous-materials test within 2 years
248 preceding his or her application for a commercial driver license
249 in this state.
250 (d) An applicant who is found to have cheated during, or to
251 have otherwise circumvented, any portion of the examination must
252 retake the examination.
253 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
254 322.135, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (d) is
255 added to that subsection, to read:
256 322.135 Driver license agents.—
257 (1) The department shall, upon application, authorize by
258 interagency agreement any or all of the tax collectors who are
259 constitutional officers under s. 1(d), Art. VIII of the State
260 Constitution in the several counties of the state, subject to
261 the requirements of law, in accordance with rules of the
262 department, to serve as its agent for the provision of specified
263 driver license services.
264 (a) These services shall be limited to the issuance of
265 driver licenses and identification cards as authorized by this
266 chapter, transactions for which may be processed by the tax
267 collector using the department’s online license and registration
268 portal.
269 (d) A tax collector may offer a licensee or prospective
270 licensee the option to increase the amount of his or her
271 transaction to the next whole dollar amount in order to donate
272 the amount of the increase to a charity registered with the
273 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
274 Section 8. Subsection (4) of section 322.251, Florida
275 Statutes, is amended to read:
276 322.251 Notice of cancellation, suspension, revocation, or
277 disqualification of license.—
278 (4) A person whose privilege to operate a commercial motor
279 vehicle is temporarily disqualified may, upon surrendering his
280 or her commercial driver license, be issued a Class E driver
281 license, valid for the length of his or her unexpired commercial
282 driver license, if eligible, at no cost. Such person may, upon
283 the completion of his or her disqualification, be issued a
284 commercial driver license, of the type disqualified, for the
285 remainder of his or her unexpired license period. Any such
286 person must shall pay the reinstatement fee provided in s.
287 322.21 before being issued a commercial driver license.
288 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
289 322.271, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
290 322.271 Authority to modify revocation, cancellation, or
291 suspension order.—
292 (1)
293 (b) A person whose driving privilege has been revoked under
294 s. 322.27(5) may, upon expiration of 12 months from the date of
295 such revocation, petition the department for reinstatement of
296 his or her driving privilege. Upon such petition and after
297 investigation of the person’s qualification, fitness, and need
298 to drive, the department shall hold a hearing pursuant to
299 chapter 120 to determine whether the driving privilege shall be
300 reinstated on a restricted basis solely for business or
301 employment purposes. If such person is granted a limited driving
302 privilege and subsequently violates the conditions of the
303 restricted driving privilege, the restricted driving privilege
304 must be revoked and the person is not eligible for any driving
305 privilege for the remaining duration of the 5-year period after
306 his or her initial license revocation.
307 Section 10. Section 322.66, Florida Statutes, is amended to
308 read:
309 322.66 Vehicles permitted to be driven during driving
310 skills tests.—A person who does not possess a valid driver
311 license may drive a noncommercial or commercial motor vehicle
312 during a driving skills test conducted in accordance with s.
313 322.12(3) and (4)(b) s. 322.12(3) and (4)(a), if the person has
314 passed the vision, hearing, road rules, and road signs tests
315 ordinarily administered to applicants for a Class E license,
316 and, if required, has passed the commercial driver license
317 knowledge and appropriate endorsement tests.
318 Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.