Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1358
       
       
        
       By Senator Trumbull
       
       
       
       
       
       2-01119B-26                                           20261358__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to fees for Department of Highway
    3         Safety and Motor Vehicles services; amending s.
    4         319.324, F.S.; providing that an expedited service
    5         fee, less a specified charge, is retained by the tax
    6         collector under certain circumstances; amending s.
    7         320.031, F.S.; providing that a certain mail service
    8         charge includes certain actual costs as determined by
    9         the department or a tax collector, rather than a
   10         specified amount; amending s. 320.072, F.S.; providing
   11         that a specified percentage of certain fees imposed on
   12         motor vehicle registration transactions are retained
   13         by the tax collector or other authorized agent of the
   14         department rather than deposited into the Highway
   15         Safety Operating Trust Fund; amending s. 320.08056,
   16         F.S.; providing that a processing fee for specialty
   17         license plate requests is retained by the tax
   18         collector, less a specified charge, rather than
   19         deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
   20         Fund; amending ss. 322.051 and 322.14, F.S.; providing
   21         that certain fees relating to specified symbols
   22         exhibited on identification cards and driver licenses,
   23         respectively, are retained by the tax collector, less
   24         a specified charge, rather than deposited into the
   25         Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund; amending s.
   26         322.20, F.S.; providing that certain record fees are
   27         retained by clerks of court and tax collectors, less a
   28         specified charge, rather than remitted to the
   29         department within a specified timeframe; amending s.
   30         322.21, F.S.; requiring that specified portions of
   31         fees for replacement driver licenses, renewal
   32         identification cards, and replacement identification
   33         cards be retained by or remitted to the tax collector,
   34         less a specified charge, rather than deposited into
   35         the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund; providing
   36         that fees relating to hazardous-materials endorsements
   37         are retained by the tax collector rather than
   38         deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
   39         Fund; requiring that a portion of certain fees for
   40         reinstatement of driver licenses be retained by the
   41         tax collector, less a specified charge, rather than
   42         deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
   43         Fund; requiring the department to collect and remit
   44         certain fees, less a specified charge, to the tax
   45         collector rather than collecting and depositing such
   46         fees into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund;
   47         amending s. 322.29, F.S.; requiring that certain
   48         service fees relating to license reinstatement be
   49         retained by the clerk of court or tax collector who
   50         reinstated the license, rather than partially remitted
   51         to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the
   52         Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund; amending s.
   53         324.0221, F.S.; providing that certain fees are
   54         collected by the Department of Highway Safety and
   55         Motor Vehicles or the tax collector; requiring the tax
   56         collector to retain such collected fees, less a
   57         specified charge, and distribute a specified portion
   58         of such fees to a certain local governmental entity or
   59         state agency under certain circumstances; amending s.
   60         324.071, F.S.; authorizing payment of a certain
   61         reinstatement fee to a tax collector; providing that
   62         such fee is retained by the processing entity, less a
   63         specified charge; providing an effective date.
   64          
   65  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   66  
   67         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 319.324, Florida
   68  Statutes, is amended to read:
   69         319.324 Odometer fraud prevention and detection; funding.—
   70         (1) Moneys received by the department pursuant to s.
   71  319.32(1) in the amount of $1 for each original certificate of
   72  title, each duplicate copy of a certificate of title, and each
   73  assignment by a lienholder shall be deposited into the Highway
   74  Safety Operating Trust Fund. There shall also be deposited into
   75  the fund moneys received by the department pursuant to s.
   76  319.323 in the amount of $5 for each expedited service performed
   77  by the department for which a fee is assessed. If the expedited
   78  service is performed by the tax collector, the expedited service
   79  fee is retained by the tax collector, less the general revenue
   80  service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1).
   81         Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 320.031, Florida
   82  Statutes, as amended by section 4 of chapter 2025-125, Laws of
   83  Florida, is amended to read:
   84         320.031 Mailing or delivery of registration certificates,
   85  license plates, and validation stickers.—
   86         (2) A mail service charge may be collected for each
   87  registration certificate, license plate, mobile home sticker,
   88  and validation sticker mailed by the department or any tax
   89  collector. Each registration certificate, license plate, mobile
   90  home sticker, and validation sticker shall be mailed by first
   91  class mail unless otherwise requested by the applicant. The
   92  amount of the mail service charge shall be the actual postage
   93  required, rounded to the nearest 5 cents, plus the actual
   94  handling cost or actual envelope cost, as determined by the
   95  department or tax collector a 25-cent handling charge. The mail
   96  service charge is in addition to the service charge provided by
   97  s. 320.04. All charges collected by the department under this
   98  section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating
   99  Trust Fund.
  100         Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 320.072, Florida
  101  Statutes, is amended to read:
  102         320.072 Additional fee imposed on certain motor vehicle
  103  registration transactions.—
  104         (4) A tax collector or other authorized agent of the
  105  department shall promptly remit all moneys collected pursuant to
  106  this section, less a retained service charge of 14.3 percent and
  107  any refunds granted pursuant to subsection (3), to the
  108  department. The department shall deposit 85.7 percent of such
  109  moneys into the State Transportation Trust Fund and 14.3 percent
  110  into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. Notwithstanding
  111  any other law, the moneys deposited into the State
  112  Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this subsection shall be
  113  used by the Department of Transportation for the following:
  114         (a) The Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network
  115  established in s. 339.81, $50 million.
  116         (b) The capital funding for the New Starts Transit Program,
  117  authorized by 49 U.S.C. s. 5309 and pursuant to s. 341.051, 3.4
  118  percent.
  119         (c) The Small County Outreach Program pursuant to s.
  120  339.2818, 5 percent.
  121         (d) The Florida Strategic Intermodal System pursuant to ss.
  122  339.61-339.64, 20.6 percent.
  123         (e) The Transportation Regional Incentive Program pursuant
  124  to s. 339.2819, 6.9 percent.
  125         (f) All remaining funds for any transportation purpose
  126  authorized by law.
  127         Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
  128  320.08056, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  129         320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
  130         (3) Each request must be made annually to the department or
  131  an authorized agent serving on behalf of the department,
  132  accompanied by the following tax and fees:
  133         (b) A processing fee of $5, to be retained by the tax
  134  collector, less the general revenue service charge set forth in
  135  s. 215.20(1) deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  136  Fund.
  137  
  138  A request may be made any time during a registration period. If
  139  a request is made for a specialty license plate to replace a
  140  current valid license plate, the specialty license plate must be
  141  issued with appropriate decals attached at no tax for the plate,
  142  but all fees and service charges must be paid. If a request is
  143  made for a specialty license plate at the beginning of the
  144  registration period, the tax, together with all applicable fees
  145  and service charges, must be paid.
  146         Section 5. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (8) of
  147  section 322.051, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  148         322.051 Identification cards.—
  149         (8)
  150         (c) The international symbol for the deaf and hard of
  151  hearing shall be exhibited on the identification card of a
  152  person who is deaf or hard of hearing upon the payment of an
  153  additional $1 fee, to be retained by the tax collector, for the
  154  identification card and the presentation of sufficient proof
  155  that the person is deaf or hard of hearing as determined by the
  156  department. Until a person’s identification card is next
  157  renewed, the person may have the symbol added to his or her
  158  identification card upon surrender of his or her current
  159  identification card, payment of a $2 fee, to be retained by the
  160  tax collector, less the general revenue service charge set forth
  161  in s. 215.20(1) to be deposited into the Highway Safety
  162  Operating Trust Fund, and presentation of sufficient proof that
  163  the person is deaf or hard of hearing as determined by the
  164  department. If the applicant is not conducting any other
  165  transaction affecting the identification card, a replacement
  166  identification card may be issued with the symbol without
  167  payment of the fee required in s. 322.21(1)(f)3.c. For purposes
  168  of this paragraph, the international symbol for the deaf and
  169  hard of hearing is substantially as follows:
  170  
  171                                                                   
  172  
  173         (d) The department shall include symbols representing the
  174  following on an identification card upon the payment of an
  175  additional $1 fee, to be retained by the tax collector, by an
  176  applicant who meets the requirements of subsection (1) and
  177  presents his or her:
  178         1. Lifetime freshwater fishing license;
  179         2. Lifetime saltwater fishing license;
  180         3. Lifetime hunting license;
  181         4. Lifetime sportsman’s license; or
  182         5. Lifetime boater safety identification card.
  183  
  184  A person may replace his or her identification card before its
  185  expiration date with a card that includes his or her status as a
  186  lifetime licensee or boater safety cardholder upon surrender of
  187  his or her current identification card, payment of a $2 fee, to
  188  be retained by the tax collector, less the general revenue
  189  service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1) to be deposited into
  190  the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and presentation of the
  191  person’s lifetime license or card. If the sole purpose of the
  192  replacement identification card is the inclusion of the
  193  applicant’s status as a lifetime licensee or cardholder, the
  194  replacement identification card must be issued without payment
  195  of the fee required in s. 322.21(1)(f)3.c.
  196         Section 6. Paragraphs (c) and (e) of subsection (1) of
  197  section 322.14, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  198         322.14 Licenses issued to drivers.—
  199         (1)
  200         (c) The international symbol for the deaf and hard of
  201  hearing provided in s. 322.051(8)(c) shall be exhibited on the
  202  driver license of a person who is deaf or hard of hearing upon
  203  the payment of an additional $1 fee, to be retained by the tax
  204  collector, less the general revenue service charge set forth in
  205  s. 215.20(1), for the license and the presentation of sufficient
  206  proof that the person is deaf or hard of hearing as determined
  207  by the department. Until a person’s license is next renewed, the
  208  person may have the symbol added to his or her license upon the
  209  surrender of his or her current license, payment of a $2 fee to
  210  be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and
  211  presentation of sufficient proof that the person is deaf or hard
  212  of hearing as determined by the department. If the applicant is
  213  not conducting any other transaction affecting the driver
  214  license, a replacement license may be issued with the symbol
  215  without payment of the fee required in s. 322.21(1)(e).
  216         (e) The department shall include symbols representing the
  217  following on a driver license upon the payment of an additional
  218  $1 fee by an applicant who meets the requirements of s. 322.08
  219  and presents his or her:
  220         1. Lifetime freshwater fishing license;
  221         2. Lifetime saltwater fishing license;
  222         3. Lifetime hunting license;
  223         4. Lifetime sportsman’s license; or
  224         5. Lifetime boater safety identification card.
  225  
  226  A person may replace his or her driver license before its
  227  expiration date with a license that includes his or her status
  228  as a lifetime licensee or boater safety cardholder upon
  229  surrender of his or her current driver license, payment of a $2
  230  fee, to be retained by the tax collector, less the general
  231  revenue service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1) to be deposited
  232  into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and presentation
  233  of the person’s lifetime license or identification card. If the
  234  sole purpose of the replacement driver license is the inclusion
  235  of the applicant’s status as a lifetime licensee or cardholder,
  236  the replacement driver license must be issued without payment of
  237  the fee required in s. 322.21(1)(e).
  238         Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (11) and subsection
  239  (12) of section 322.20, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  240         322.20 Records of the department; fees; destruction of
  241  records.—
  242         (11)
  243         (c) The clerks of court and tax collectors authorized under
  244  s. 322.135, may provide 3-year, 7-year, or complete driver
  245  records to any person requesting such records upon payment of
  246  the appropriate fees. In addition to the fees authorized under
  247  paragraph (a), clerks of court and tax collectors may assess the
  248  fee listed in s. 322.135(1)(c) for this service. The applicable
  249  record fees listed in paragraph (a) shall be retained by the
  250  processing entity, less the general revenue service charge set
  251  forth in s. 215.20(1) must be remitted to the department no
  252  later than 5 days after payment is received, unless a shorter
  253  remittance period is required by law.
  254         (12) The fees collected by the department under this
  255  section shall be placed in the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  256  Fund.
  257         Section 8. Paragraphs (e), (f), and (h) of subsection (1)
  258  and subsection (8) of section 322.21, Florida Statutes, are
  259  amended to read:
  260         322.21 License fees; procedure for handling and collecting
  261  fees.—
  262         (1) Except as otherwise provided herein, the fee for:
  263         (e) A replacement driver license issued pursuant to s.
  264  322.17 is $25. Of this amount $7, less the general revenue
  265  service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1), shall be retained by
  266  or remitted to the tax collector, as applicable, shall be
  267  deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and $18
  268  shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. Beginning July
  269  1, 2015, or upon completion of the transition of driver license
  270  issuance services, if the replacement driver license is issued
  271  by the tax collector, the tax collector shall retain the $7 that
  272  would otherwise be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating
  273  Trust Fund and the remaining revenues shall be deposited into
  274  the General Revenue Fund.
  275         (f) An original, renewal, or replacement identification
  276  card issued pursuant to s. 322.051 is $25.
  277         1. An applicant who meets any of the following criteria is
  278  exempt from the fee under this paragraph for an original,
  279  renewal, or replacement identification card:
  280         a. The applicant presents a valid Florida voter’s
  281  registration card to the department and attests that he or she
  282  is experiencing a financial hardship.
  283         b. The applicant presents evidence satisfactory to the
  284  department that he or she is homeless as defined in s.
  285  414.0252(7).
  286         c. The applicant presents evidence satisfactory to the
  287  department that his or her annual income is at or below 100
  288  percent of the federal poverty level.
  289         d. The applicant is a juvenile offender who is in the
  290  custody or under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile
  291  Justice, who is receiving services pursuant to s. 985.461, and
  292  whose identification card is issued by the department’s mobile
  293  issuing units.
  294         2. Pursuant to s. 322.051(10), an applicant who is 80 years
  295  of age or older and whose driving privilege is denied due to
  296  failure to pass a vision test administered pursuant to s.
  297  322.18(5) is exempt from the fee under this paragraph for an
  298  original identification card.
  299         3. Funds collected from fees for original, renewal, or
  300  replacement identification cards shall be distributed as
  301  follows:
  302         a. For an original identification card issued pursuant to
  303  s. 322.051, the fee shall be deposited into the General Revenue
  304  Fund.
  305         b. For a renewal identification card issued pursuant to s.
  306  322.051, $6, less the general revenue service charge set forth
  307  in s. 215.20(1), shall be retained by or remitted to the tax
  308  collector, as applicable shall be deposited into the Highway
  309  Safety Operating Trust Fund, and $19 shall be deposited into the
  310  General Revenue Fund.
  311         c. For a replacement identification card issued pursuant to
  312  s. 322.051, $9, less the general revenue service charge set
  313  forth in s. 215.20(1), shall be retained by or remitted to the
  314  tax collector, as applicable shall be deposited into the Highway
  315  Safety Operating Trust Fund, and $16 shall be deposited into the
  316  General Revenue Fund. Beginning July 1, 2015, or upon completion
  317  of the transition of the driver license issuance services, if
  318  the replacement identification card is issued by the tax
  319  collector, the tax collector shall retain the $9 that would
  320  otherwise be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  321  Fund and the remaining revenues shall be deposited into the
  322  General Revenue Fund.
  323         (h) A hazardous-materials endorsement, as required by s.
  324  322.57(1)(e), shall be set by the department by rule and must
  325  reflect the cost of the required criminal history check,
  326  including the cost of the state and federal fingerprint check,
  327  and the cost to the department of providing and issuing the
  328  license, and an additional $50, to be retained by the tax
  329  collector. The fee may shall not exceed $100. This fee shall be
  330  deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. The
  331  department may adopt rules to administer this section.
  332         (8) A person who applies for reinstatement following the
  333  suspension or revocation of the person’s driver license must pay
  334  a service fee of $45 following a suspension, and $75 following a
  335  revocation, which is in addition to the fee for a license. A
  336  person who applies for reinstatement of a commercial driver
  337  license following the disqualification or downgrade of the
  338  person’s privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle must
  339  pay a service fee of $75, which is in addition to the fee for a
  340  license. The department shall collect all of these fees at the
  341  time of reinstatement. The department shall issue proper
  342  receipts for such fees and shall promptly transmit all funds
  343  received by it as follows:
  344         (a) Of the $45 fee received from a licensee for
  345  reinstatement following a suspension:
  346         1. If the reinstatement is processed by the department, the
  347  department shall deposit $15 in the General Revenue Fund and $30
  348  in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
  349         2. If the reinstatement is processed by the tax collector,
  350  $30 $15, less the general revenue service charge set forth in s.
  351  215.20(1), shall be retained by the tax collector, $15 shall be
  352  deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and $15
  353  shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
  354         (b) Of the $75 fee received from a licensee for
  355  reinstatement following a revocation, disqualification, or
  356  downgrade:
  357         1. If the reinstatement is processed by the department, the
  358  department shall deposit $35 in the General Revenue Fund and $40
  359  in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
  360         2. If the reinstatement is processed by the tax collector,
  361  $40 $20, less the general revenue service charge set forth in s.
  362  215.20(1), shall be retained by the tax collector, $20 shall be
  363  deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and $35
  364  shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
  365  
  366  If the revocation or suspension of the driver license was for a
  367  violation of s. 316.193, or for refusal to submit to a lawful
  368  breath, blood, or urine test, an additional fee of $130 must be
  369  charged. However, only one $130 fee may be collected from one
  370  person convicted of violations arising out of the same incident.
  371  The department shall collect and remit the $130 fee, less the
  372  general revenue service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1), to the
  373  tax collector and deposit the fee into the Highway Safety
  374  Operating Trust Fund at the time of reinstatement of the
  375  person’s driver license, but the fee may not be collected if the
  376  suspension or revocation is overturned. If the revocation or
  377  suspension of the driver license was for a conviction for a
  378  violation of s. 817.234(8) or (9) or s. 817.505, an additional
  379  fee of $180 is imposed for each offense. The department shall
  380  collect and remit the additional fee, less the general revenue
  381  service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1), to the tax collector
  382  deposit the additional fee into the Highway Safety Operating
  383  Trust Fund at the time of reinstatement of the person’s driver
  384  license.
  385         Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 322.29, Florida
  386  Statutes, is amended to read:
  387         322.29 Surrender and return of license.—
  388         (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), an examination is not
  389  required for the return of a license suspended under s. 318.15
  390  or s. 322.245 unless an examination is otherwise required by
  391  this chapter. A person applying for the return of a license
  392  suspended under s. 318.15 or s. 322.245 must present to the
  393  department certification from the court that he or she has
  394  complied with all obligations and penalties imposed pursuant to
  395  s. 318.15 or, in the case of a suspension pursuant to s.
  396  322.245, that he or she has complied with all directives of the
  397  court and the requirements of s. 322.245 and shall pay to the
  398  department a nonrefundable service fee of $60, of which $37.50
  399  shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund and $22.50
  400  shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
  401  If reinstated by the clerk of the court or tax collector, the
  402  service fee shall be retained by the processing entity $37.50
  403  shall be retained and $22.50 shall be remitted to the Department
  404  of Revenue for deposit into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  405  Fund. However, the service fee is not required if the person is
  406  required to pay a $45 fee or $75 fee under s. 322.21(8).
  407         Section 10. Subsection (3) of section 324.0221, Florida
  408  Statutes, is amended to read:
  409         324.0221 Reports by insurers to the department; suspension
  410  of driver license and vehicle registrations; reinstatement.—
  411         (3) An operator or owner whose driver license or
  412  registration has been suspended under this section or s. 316.646
  413  may affect its reinstatement upon compliance with the
  414  requirements of this section and upon payment to the department
  415  of a nonrefundable reinstatement fee of $150 for the first
  416  reinstatement. The reinstatement fee is $250 for the second
  417  reinstatement and $500 for each subsequent reinstatement during
  418  the 3 years following the first reinstatement. A person
  419  reinstating her or his insurance under this subsection must also
  420  secure coverage as described in ss. 324.021(8), 324.023, and
  421  627.7275(2) and present to the appropriate person proof that the
  422  coverage is in force on a form adopted by the department, and
  423  such proof shall be maintained for 2 years. If the person does
  424  not have a second reinstatement within 3 years after her or his
  425  initial reinstatement, the reinstatement fee is $150 for the
  426  first reinstatement after that 3-year period. If a person’s
  427  license and registration are suspended under this section or s.
  428  316.646, only one reinstatement fee must be paid to reinstate
  429  the license and the registration. All fees shall be collected by
  430  the department or tax collector at the time of reinstatement.
  431  The department or tax collector shall issue proper receipts for
  432  such fees and shall, if the service is provided by the
  433  department, promptly deposit the those fees in the Highway
  434  Safety Operating Trust Fund or, if the service is provided by
  435  the tax collector, retain the fees less the general revenue
  436  service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1). One-third of the fees
  437  collected under this subsection shall be distributed from the
  438  Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund or tax collector, as
  439  applicable, to the local governmental entity or state agency
  440  that employed the law enforcement officer seizing the license
  441  plate pursuant to s. 324.201. The funds may be used by the local
  442  governmental entity or state agency for any authorized purpose.
  443         Section 11. Section 324.071, Florida Statutes, is amended
  444  to read:
  445         324.071 Reinstatement; renewal of license; reinstatement
  446  fee.—Any operator or owner whose license or registration has
  447  been suspended pursuant to s. 324.051(2), s. 324.072, s.
  448  324.081, or s. 324.121 may effect its reinstatement upon
  449  compliance with the provisions of s. 324.051(2)(a)3. or 4., or
  450  s. 324.081(2) and (3), as the case may be, and with one of the
  451  provisions of s. 324.031 and upon payment to the department or
  452  tax collector of a nonrefundable reinstatement fee of $15. This
  453  fee shall be retained by the processing entity, less the general
  454  revenue service charge set forth in s. 215.20(1). Only one such
  455  fee shall be paid by any one person irrespective of the number
  456  of licenses and registrations to be then reinstated or issued to
  457  such person. All such fees shall be deposited to a department
  458  trust fund. When the reinstatement of any license or
  459  registration is effected by compliance with s. 324.051(2)(a)3.
  460  or 4., the department shall not renew the license or
  461  registration within a period of 3 years from such reinstatement,
  462  nor shall any other license or registration be issued in the
  463  name of such person, unless the operator is continuing to comply
  464  with one of the provisions of s. 324.031.
  465         Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.