Florida HB 53: Rapid Rail Transit Compact

Bill Text

HB 53 2026

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hb53-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to a rapid rail transit compact; 2
creating s. 351.41, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to 3
execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified 4
states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing 5
the form of the compact; providing an effective date. 6
7
WHEREAS, North Florida has lacked passenger rail service 8
since September 2005, when track damage from Hurricane Katrina 9
led to the termination of Amtrak's Sunset Limited route, which 10
ran from New Orleans to Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, 11
and Orlando, and 12
WHEREAS, the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), formed by the 13
United States Congress in 1982, has evolved over time with a 14
vision to "promote the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of 15
people and goods to enhance economic development along rail 16
corridors; provide transportation choices; and facilitate 17
emergency evacuation routes," and 18
WHEREAS, the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi 19
are members of the SRC, and 20
WHEREAS, the SRC has been highly successful in 21
collaborating with Amtrak and other partners to obtain federal 22
funding for the restoration of passenger rail service in its 23
member states, including $178 million in federal grant funding 24
in September 2023 to restore passenger rail service from New 25

HB 53 2026

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hb53-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

Orleans, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, and 26
WHEREAS, the new route between New Orleans and Mobile, 27
referred to as the "Mardi Gras Service," made its first run on 28
August 18, 2025, and runs twice daily between New Orleans and 29
Mobile, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and 30
Pascagoula, Mississippi, and 31
WHEREAS, the SRC has also identified a project connecting 32
the entire Gulf Coast with services from Baton Rouge to Orlando, 33
called the Gulf Coast Passenger Rail route, and 34
WHEREAS, states such as Florida, which are contiguous to 35
existing SRC member states, are eligible to become SRC members, 36
and 37
WHEREAS, by joining the SRC, Florida can leverage the power 38
of a multistate coalition to study, plan, and obtain federal 39
funding for passenger rail initiatives that benefit its 40
residents and businesses, without obligating this state to spend 41
state funds on rail infrastructure, and 42
WHEREAS, passenger rail stimulates economic development by 43
fostering tourism, attracting businesses, improving access to 44
markets, promoting job creation, and spurring investment in 45
local communities, and 46
WHEREAS, passenger rail enhances connectivity between 47
communities, businesses, military bases, health care facilities, 48
educational institutions, sports venues, and tourist 49
attractions, fostering regional cooperation and cohesion among 50

HB 53 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

diverse populations, and 51
WHEREAS, passenger rail can expand this state's capacity 52
for emergency evacuation and disaster response during 53
emergencies and provide another option for mobilizing emergency 54
response personnel, particularly when roadways have reached 55
capacity or have been damaged, and 56
WHEREAS, passenger rail provides an alternative mode of 57
transportation, reducing traffic congestion on highways by 58
alleviating the strain on existing road infrastructure, which 59
increases safety and efficiency for all travelers, and 60
WHEREAS, accessible and convenient transportation options 61
increase quality of life for residents by providing greater 62
mobility, reducing travel times, and offering an alternative to 63
driving, NOW, THEREFORE, 64
65
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 66
67
Section 1. Section 351.41, Florida Statutes, is created to 68
read: 69
351.41 Rapid Rail Transit Compact.—The Governor, on behalf 70
of this state, is hereby authorized to execute a compact, in 71
substantially the following form, with the States of Alabama, 72
Louisiana, and Mississippi, and the Legislature hereby signifies 73
in advance its approval and ratification of such compact: 74
75

HB 53 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

RAPID RAIL TRANSIT COMPACT 76
ARTICLE I 77
The purpose of this compact is to study the feasibility of 78
rapid rail transit service between the states of Alabama, 79
Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and to establish a joint 80
interstate commission to assist in this effort. 81
82
ARTICLE II 83
This compact shall become effective immediately as to the 84
states ratifying it