Florida SB 356: Sales Tax Holiday for ENERGY STAR and WaterSense Products

Bill Text

356 
Utility Terrain Vehicles 
2025-11-04T04:59:53Z 
Authorizing the operation of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) during all hours; authorizing the operation of UTVs on certain roadways; authorizing the Department of Transportation to prohibit the operation of UTVs under certain circumstances; requiring owners or operators of a UTV to comply with certain requirements and regulations, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2027-01-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 356 

 By Senator Wright 

 8-00442-26 2026356__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to utility terrain vehicles; creating 
 3 s. 316.21275, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing the 
 4 operation of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) during 
 5 all hours; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 
 6 certain roadways; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 
 7 certain parts of the State Highway System; authorizing 
 8 the Department of Transportation to prohibit the 
 9 operation of UTVs under certain circumstances; 
 10 authorizing persons possessing certain licenses to 
 11 operate a UTV; requiring owners or operators of a UTV 
 12 to comply with certain requirements and regulations; 
 13 authorizing a county or municipality to restrict or 
 14 prohibit the operation of UTVs under certain 
 15 circumstances; providing civil penalties; amending s. 
 16 320.0847, F.S.; requiring the Department of Highway 
 17 Safety and Motor Vehicles to issue a license plate to 
 18 the owner or lessee of a vehicle registered as a UTV 
 19 upon payment of certain taxes and fees; requiring that 
 20 license plates for UTVs comply with specified 
 21 provisions; providing an effective date. 
 22 
 23 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 24 
 25 Section 1. Section 316.21275, Florida Statutes, is created 
 26 to read: 
 27 316.21275 Operation of a UTV on certain roadways.— 
 28 (1) As used in this section, the term: 
 29 (a) “Direct supervision” means a person is in the adjacent 
 30 front passenger seat of the UTV being operated. 
 31 (b) “Utility terrain vehicle” or “UTV” means a vehicle less 
 32 than 70 inches in width which has at least two seats allowing 
 33 passengers to sit in a side-by-side manner, is operated by foot 
 34 controls and a steering wheel, and is equipped with headlamps, 
 35 stop lamps, turn signals, tail lamps, rearview mirrors, a 
 36 windshield, seat belts, and a horn. 
 37 (2) A UTV may be operated during all hours. 
 38 (3) A UTV may be operated only upon: 
 39 (a) A two-lane county road with a posted speed limit of 
 40 less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 
 41 use by a county; or 
 42 (b) A two-lane municipal street with a posted speed limit 
 43 of less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 
 44 use by a municipality. 
 45 
 46 Before making such designation, the responsible county or 
 47 municipality must first determine that a UTV may safely travel 
 48 on or cross the public road or street, considering factors 
 49 including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle 
 50 traffic using the road or street. 
 51 (4) A person may operate a UTV on the State Highway System 
 52 only when necessary to cross the highway at an angle of 
 53 approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the roadway and at 
 54 a place where a quick and safe crossing can be made. The 
 55 Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of UTVs 
 56 on any road in its jurisdiction if it determines that such 
 57 prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 
 58 (5) A person may operate a UTV only if he or she possesses 
 59 a driver license pursuant to s. 322.18, or if he or she 
 60 possesses a learner’s driver license pursuant to s. 322.1615 and 
 61 is under the direct supervision of a licensed driver. 
 62 (6) The owner or operator of a UTV must comply with all of 
 63 the following requirements and regulations: 
 64 (a) Obey traffic regulations enumerated in this chapter and 
 65 operate the UTV with due care. 
 66 (b) Provide proof of ownership under chapter 317 upon 
 67 request of a law enforcement officer. 
 68 (c) Fulfill all insurance requirements pursuant to ss. 
 69 324.022 and 627.736. 
 70 (d) Ensure that the UTV has the proper license plate 
 71 pursuant to s. 320.0847. 
 72 (e) Maintain the registration certificate or a copy thereof 
 73 in the UTV pursuant to s. 320.0605. 
 74 (7) A county or municipality may enact an ordinance 
 75 regarding UTV operation and equipment which is more restrictive 
 76 than the requirements enumerated in this section. 
 77 (8) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of 
 78 a UTV on any road or street under its jurisdiction if the 
 79 governing body of such county or municipality determines that 
 80 such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 
 81 (9) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic 
 82 infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation, as provided in