Florida SB 1254: Ad Valorem Assessments

Bill Text

1254 
Rapid Rail Transit Compact 
2026-01-06T11:13:42Z 
Authorizing the Governor to execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing the form of the compact, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1254 

 By Senator Davis 

 5-00637-26 20261254__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to a rapid rail transit compact; 
 3 creating s. 351.41, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to 
 4 execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified 
 5 states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing 
 6 the form of the compact; providing an effective date. 
 7 
 8 WHEREAS, North Florida has lacked passenger rail service 
 9 since September 2005, when track damage from Hurricane Katrina 
 10 led to the termination of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited route, which 
 11 ran from New Orleans to Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, 
 12 and Orlando, and 
 13 WHEREAS, the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), formed by the 
 14 United States Congress in 1982, has evolved over time with a 
 15 vision to “promote the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of 
 16 people and goods to enhance economic development along rail 
 17 corridors; provide transportation choices; and facilitate 
 18 emergency evacuation routes,” and 
 19 WHEREAS, the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi 
 20 are members of the SRC, and 
 21 WHEREAS, the SRC has been highly successful in 
 22 collaborating with Amtrak and other partners to obtain federal 
 23 funding for the restoration of passenger rail service in its 
 24 member states, including $178 million in federal grant funding 
 25 in September 2023 to restore passenger rail service from New 
 26 Orleans, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, and 
 27 WHEREAS, the new route between New Orleans and Mobile, 
 28 referred to as the “Mardi Gras Service,” made its first run on 
 29 August 18, 2025, and runs twice daily between New Orleans and 
 30 Mobile, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and 
 31 Pascagoula, Mississippi, and 
 32 WHEREAS, the SRC has also identified a project connecting 
 33 the entire Gulf Coast with services from Baton Rouge to Orlando, 
 34 called the Gulf Coast Passenger Rail route, and 
 35 WHEREAS, states such as Florida, which are contiguous to 
 36 existing SRC member states, are eligible to become SRC members, 
 37 and 
 38 WHEREAS, by joining the SRC, Florida can leverage the power 
 39 of a multistate coalition to study, plan, and obtain federal 
 40 funding for passenger rail initiatives that benefit its 
 41 residents and businesses, without obligating this state to spend 
 42 state funds on rail infrastructure, and 
 43 WHEREAS, passenger rail stimulates economic development by 
 44 fostering tourism, attracting businesses, improving access to 
 45 markets, promoting job creation, and spurring investment in 
 46 local communities, and 
 47 WHEREAS, passenger rail enhances connectivity between 
 48 communities, businesses, military bases, health care facilities, 
 49 educational institutions, sports venues, and tourist 
 50 attractions, fostering regional cooperation and cohesion among 
 51 diverse populations, and 
 52 WHEREAS, passenger rail can expand this state’s capacity 
 53 for emergency evacuation and disaster response during 
 54 emergencies and provide another option for mobilizing emergency 
 55 response personnel, particularly when roadways have reached 
 56 capacity or have been damaged, and 
 57 WHEREAS, passenger rail provides an alternative mode of 
 58 transportation, reducing traffic congestion on highways by 
 59 alleviating the strain on existing road infrastructure, which 
 60 increases safety and efficiency for all travelers, and 
 61 WHEREAS, accessible and convenient transportation options 
 62 increase quality of life for residents by providing greater 
 63 mobility, reducing travel times, and offering an alternative to 
 64 driving, NOW, THEREFORE, 
 65 
 66 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 67 
 68 Section 1. Section 351.41, Florida Statutes, is created to 
 69 read: 
 70 351.41 Rapid Rail Transit Compact.—The Governor, on behalf 
 71 of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact, in 
 72 substantially the following form, with the States of Alabama, 
 73 Louisiana, and Mississippi, and the Legislature hereby signifies 
 74 in advance its approval and ratification of such compact: 
 75 
 76 RAPID RAIL TRANSIT COMPACT 
 77 ARTICLE I 
 78 The purpose of this compact is to study the feasibility of 
 79 rapid rail transit service between the states of Alabama, 
 80 Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and to establish a joint 
 81 interstate commission to assist in this effort. 
 82 
 83 ARTICLE II 
 84 This compact shall become effective immediately as to the 
 85 states ratifying it whenever the States of Alabama, Florida, 
 86 Louisiana, and Mississippi have ratified it and Cong