Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1366
       
       
        
       By Senator Smith
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00795A-25                                          20251366__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to toll discounts for veteran-owned
    3         businesses; amending s. 338.155, F.S.; providing a
    4         discount for certain veteran-owned businesses on
    5         payment of tolls for the use of toll facilities under
    6         a pilot program established by the Department of
    7         Transportation; providing eligibility requirements for
    8         the pilot program; requiring the Florida Turnpike
    9         Enterprise in coordination with the Department of
   10         Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Management
   11         Services to administer the pilot program; requiring
   12         the Department of Transportation to prepare a certain
   13         report and submit findings to the Legislature by a
   14         specified date; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
   19  338.155, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   20         338.155 Payment of toll on toll facilities required;
   21  exemptions.—
   22         (1)(a) A person may not use a toll facility without payment
   23  of tolls, except:
   24         1. An employee of the agency operating the toll project
   25  when using the toll facility on official state business.
   26         2. State military personnel while on official military
   27  business.
   28         3. A person with a disability as provided in subsection
   29  (3).
   30         4. A person exempt from toll payment by the authorizing
   31  resolution for bonds issued to finance the facility.
   32         5. A person exempt on a temporary basis where use of such
   33  toll facility is required as a detour route.
   34         6. A law enforcement officer operating an official vehicle
   35  while on official law enforcement business.
   36         7. A person operating a fire vehicle while on official
   37  business or a rescue vehicle while on official business.
   38         8. A person participating in the funeral procession of a
   39  law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of
   40  duty.
   41         9.a. A veteran-owned business, pursuant to a 2-year pilot
   42  program established by the department consistent with this
   43  subparagraph. To be eligible, the business must:
   44         (I) Be a veteran business enterprise as defined in s.
   45  295.187(3) and be certified by the Department of Management
   46  Services.
   47         (II) Demonstrate regular commercial use of toll roads
   48  through automated toll accounts.
   49         b. Eligible businesses shall receive a 50 percent discount
   50  on business-related toll expenses incurred on Florida toll
   51  roads. The discount applies only to registered commercial
   52  vehicles used for business operations.
   53         c. The program will be administered by the Florida Turnpike
   54  Enterprise in coordination with the Department of Veterans’
   55  Affairs and the Department of Management Services.
   56         d. Veteran-owned businesses must apply annually, providing
   57  proof of veteran ownership and toll usage.
   58         e. Discounts will be applied through automated toll
   59  accounts.
   60         f. The department shall prepare a review and impact report
   61  of the pilot program and submit its findings to the Legislature
   62  by July 1, 2026. The report must assess participation rates and
   63  fiscal impact and provide recommendations for continuation or
   64  expansion.
   65         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.