FloridaFlorida permits funding for public vertical takeoff sites if money is available
Florida allows its transportation department to help pay for public vertiports, sites for vertical aircraft takeoffs and landings, if lawmakers provide money.
What it does
Florida's transportation department may fund public vertiports if lawmakers provide money. Funding can cover all costs without federal funds, or up to 80% of the remaining share with them, unless budget laws set different rates.
Vertiports and charging systems count as qualifying projects under Florida's law for partnerships between public agencies and private businesses.
Commercial airports' infrastructure definition includes vertiport landing pads, safety areas, and related power systems. That definition applies to their programs for keeping airport facilities safe and usable.
Argument forIf lawmakers provide money, state funding could help public vertiport projects move ahead when federal funding is unavailable.
Argument againstIf lawmakers provide money, funding projects without federal support could leave Florida paying the full cost of public vertiport projects.
More detail
Florida's Department of Transportation may pay part or all of an eligible public vertiport project's costs. This funding covers eligible public vertiport projects—sites for aircraft to take off and land vertically. Funding depends on money set aside by lawmakers and is optional. Without federal funds, the state may cover up to 100% of project costs. With federal funds, the state may cover up to 80% of the share federal funding does not cover. The state budget law or the law carrying it out may set different funding rates. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
The law lists vertiports and charging systems as projects that qualify under Florida's public-private partnership law. This category covers sites for vertical aircraft takeoffs and landings and charging systems. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
The law counts vertiport facilities and related power systems as airport infrastructure. The definition applies to commercial service airports' programs for keeping airport facilities safe and usable. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 21Chapter No. 2026-35Latest
- Apr 20Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Apr 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 10Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10In Messages
- Mar 10CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 10Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1362
- Mar 10Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 10Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 3ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Referred to RulesMinor
- Mar 3In Messages
- Mar 3CS passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 3Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 3Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 26Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
- Feb 25Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 25Reported out of Commerce Committee
- Feb 24Favorable by Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Commerce Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20Added to Commerce Committee agenda
- Feb 20Now in Commerce Committee
- Feb 20Referred to Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Feb 191st Reading (Committee Substitute 3)Minor
- Feb 18CS FiledMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Feb 18Reported out of Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee
- Feb 18Favorable with CS by Transportation & Economic Development Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 16PCS added to Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee agenda
- Feb 10Added to Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee agenda
- Feb 3Now in Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee
- Feb 3Referred to Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Referred to Transportation & Economic Development Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 21st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Ways & Means Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2CS FiledMinor
- Feb 2Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Feb 2Reported out of Ways & Means Committee
- Feb 2Favorable with CS by Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Jan 291st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 29Added to Ways & Means Committee agenda
- Jan 29Now in Ways & Means Committee
- Jan 29Referred to Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Jan 29Referred to Transportation & Economic Development Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 29Referred to Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Jan 28CS FiledMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 28Reported out of Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable with CS by Economic Infrastructure SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Transportation & Economic Development Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Ways & Means CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Economic Infrastructure SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 6FiledIntroduced
Transportation