Florida requires online fuel-tax filings and limits communications permit demands

Cities and counties cannot cap covered communications permits or demand cash deposits as a condition of issuing them. The provisions cover communications equipment in public road corridors. Fees expressly allowed by other cited laws remain possible. Private roads and easements, pole attachments, and unrelated building permits are excluded. The permit-cap protection requires permits to be closed within 45 days after work finishes. Local governments may require restoration bonds tied to repair costs, lasting no more than 18 months after construction finishes. Providers may proceed when another owner fails to locate underground facilities, but must use reasonable care and detection equipment or other acceptable methods to avoid damage. Local governments cannot require providers to cover liabilities they did not cause. Landscaping demands are limited to restoring the public road area. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Covered motor carriers must submit fuel-tax returns and decal renewals through the state's online system unless the state allows another method. Covered vehicles are nongovernment vehicles with two axles and weight over 26,000 pounds, at least three axles regardless of weight, or combined weight over 26,000 pounds. Recreational vehicles and the specified community and contracted transit vehicles are excluded. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may authorize another filing method. Florida-based vehicles traveling only within Florida are exempt from the fuel-tax licensing requirement. Other covered vehicles need licensing and decals or a temporary fuel-use permit. A license copy must be carried in each covered vehicle or available electronically. A temporary fuel-use permit costs $45 and lasts 10 days; fuel tax at the pump still applies. Making, altering, counterfeiting, or selling fuel-tax credentials without the department's written permission is a third-degree felony. Online returns and decal renewals are required beginning October 1, 2026. Annual reporting covers January 1 through December 31.

Drivers must report specified crashes and provide registration documents. Plate owners may use frames that leave the number and registration sticker visible. Crash reporting covers injury, death, or apparent property damage of at least $2,000. Florida owners and lessees eligible for permanent disabled parking permits may apply for plates through a tax collector, who may issue them immediately. Individual registration applicants need satisfactory proof of address and a valid REAL ID license or ID card, an unexpired U.S. passport, or an unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired Form I-94 entry record. Active-duty military members who are Florida residents need not provide a permanent Florida residence street address. Plate frames must leave the plate number and upper-right registration sticker visible. Disabled veterans may keep their permanent disability plate number when renewing, replacing, or transferring the plate to another vehicle they own. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026.

Covered vehicle suppliers cannot send more than 33.33 percent of a vehicle brand's Florida deliveries to one dealer or a commonly controlled dealer group. Dealer groups count together when one controls another or the stated ownership links exceed 30 percent. Suppliers must also repay qualifying inventory costs when a franchise ends, including covered new vehicles with up to 2,000 miles and motorcycles with up to 100 miles. The cap applies when the supplier distributes at least 1,000 vehicles of that brand to Florida dealers during any 12-month period. It excludes brands with a licensed Florida franchise dealer as of January 1, 2026, and suppliers permitted under the cited dealership-ownership law to own or operate dealerships. A supplier may reject an inheritance, franchise transfer, or ownership transfer that would directly violate the cap. Other stated rejection grounds also apply. A dealer may challenge a rejected transfer through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The supplier bears the burden of proving its rejection meets the rules. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026. The distribution cap measures deliveries during any 12-month period.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may email orders ending or limiting driving privileges when the driver authorizes email notice. The email option covers drivers who authorize it. The law also allows email notices for vehicle and boat matters and license renewals. State ID applications and requests for replacement driver licenses or instruction permits must include an email address. Personal delivery and postal mail remain available for orders canceling, suspending, revoking, or disqualifying licenses. Failure to receive an order does not delay its effect on driving privileges. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026. Notice is complete 20 days after email notification or postal mailing, or 15 days for the specified insurance-related notices.