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FLORIDA - Florida lawmakers advanced a major transportation bill this week, but not without quietly eliminating a controversial provision that would have allowed higher speed limits on state highways.
The Senate voted 37-0 to approve Senate Bill 462, which includes updates to the operations of metropolitan planning organizations and reforms to traffic enforcement tied to school bus camera violations.
However, the bill no longer contains language that would have increased the maximum speed limit on certain roads.
Originally, the proposal, sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach), called for raising the speed limit on limited-access highways from 70 to 75 mph.
Divided highways in rural areas could have seen speed limits rise from 65 to 70 mph.
But DiCeglie introduced a late amendment removing the speed hike, which was adopted without objection.
Concerns had been raised about the safety implications of increasing speed limits, while others argued the changes would better align with how fast drivers are already going.
This year’s attempt follows a similar 2014 proposal that passed both chambers but was ultimately vetoed by then-Gov. Rick Scott.
Meanwhile, the bill also addresses how speeding tickets issued via school bus cameras are handled.
Some counties, such as Miami-Dade, suspended the program after residents complained there was no way to appeal the tickets.
The bill shifts enforcement responsibility to county governments and aims to reform the appeal process.
The House version of the bill still includes the speed increase language.
If the bill passes, both chambers will need to reconcile the differences before the bill reaches Governor Ron DeSantis' desk.