Bill > S0976

This bill amends Florida's tourist development tax law to allow counties to use tourist development tax revenues to fund operations of commuter rail service within a regional transportation authority. Currently, tourist development tax funds can be used for various tourism-related purposes such as promoting tourism, funding convention centers, maintaining beaches, and supporting tourist information centers. The proposed change would add a new provision that permits counties to allocate these tax revenues to support commuter rail service operations, specifically within a regional transportation authority established under chapter 343 of Florida law. The bill defines commuter rail service according to existing state statute and provides this as an additional authorized use of tourist development tax revenues, expanding the current list of permissible expenditures. The new provision would take effect on July 1, 2026, giving counties additional flexibility in using tourist tax revenues to support regional transportation infrastructure.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/976