The Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development unanimously advanced a bill 14-0 on Thursday that would extend toll exemptions in Florida to include drivers of vehicles and motorcycles with Purple Heart specialty license plates.
Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) explained his bill (SB 574) to the committee. Rep. Tom Fabricio (R-Miami Lakes) filed a similar House version of the bill (HB 313).
"This bill allows any Florida resident with a Purple Heart license plate to pass through toll gates for free," Collins said. Currently, there are 9,311 plates in Florida. Around two to three thousand live in and around counties with tolls where they may actually use the toll gates."
Sen. Collins added that the potential fiscal impact from the bill would be about five to six hundred thousand dollars per year.
It is estimated that 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since its establishment in 1932.
SB 574 has one more committee stop for consideration. HB 313 has been added to the second reading calendar on the floor.
The legislature is also considering another pro-military bill that would exempt 100% disabled veterans from payment of tolls statewide. Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Inverness) and Rep. J.J. Grow (R-Inverness) are carrying the Senate (SB 532) and House (HB 445) versions of the bill.
According to a November report from The Hill, Florida has the second-most veterans in the country at over 1.3 million. Texas leads all U.S. states with 1.4 million followed by California at 1.2 million.
Overall, the United States has nearly 16 million veterans.
If fully approved and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, SB 574/HB 313 would take effect on July 1.