The Florida Senate passed a bill 36-0 on Tuesday that would require a person 18 years of age or older to complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course to obtain a Florida driver's license and pass a driver's education safety course for a learner's permit, as well as additional penalties for texting while driving.
Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) filed the bill (SB 994). Sen. Collins detailed his bill on the Senate floor.
"The bill aims to improve the educational requirements for obtaining both a standard driver's license and a learner's driver's license," Collins said. "Applicants for a driver's license who are 18 years of age or older must complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course unless they have previously been licensed in another jurisdiction, or have successfully completed a Department of Education driver's ed course prior."
Collins added the bill's learner's permit requirements.
"What this does is make sure that applicants for a learner's driver's license must now complete a driver's ed course and a safety classroom course approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles rather than the previously required traffic law and substance abuse education course," Collins said.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) attached a substitute amendment to the bill related to cell phone texting in the car.
"This amendment enhances penalties related to the Florida ban on texting while driving. "The amendment changes texting while driving from a non-moving violation to a moving violation, including the points associated with moving violations," Ingoglia said.
"First offense is three points. A second offense is four points. And just like the other moving violations, a driver can take an educational course to remove these points. But the difference being they would have to take a new four-hour course dedicated and specific to distracted driving dangers, including testimonials of people who had their lives changed forever because of an injury or death due to distracted driving," Ingoglia continued.
Ingoglia added more requirements specifically for distracted driving.
"In addition, the amendment also changes the structure of the current education point removing class to include that one hour of the four-hour class includes the dangers of distracted driving, including testimonials of people who had their lives changed forever because of distracted driving," Ingoglia added.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving killed 3,275 Americans in 2023.
Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Escambia County) filed a similar bill (HB 889) in the House.
If approved in the House and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, SB 994/HB 889 would take effect on July 1.
