HB 221 2025
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hb221-00
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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 utility terrain vehicles; creating 2
s. 316.21275, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing a 3
utility terrain vehicle (UTV) to be operated during 4
all hours; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 5
certain roadways; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 6
certain parts of the State Highway System; authorizing 7
the Department of Transportation to prohibit the use 8
of UTVs under certain circumstances; authorizing 9
persons possessing certain licenses to operate a UTV; 10
requiring owners or operators of a UTV to comply with 11
certain requirements and regulations; authorizing a 12
county or municipality to restrict the operation of 13
UTVs under certain circumstances; providing civil 14
penalties; amending s. 320.0847, F.S.; requiring the 15
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to 16
issue a license plate to the owner or lessee of a 17
vehicle registered as a UTV upon payment of certain 18
taxes and fees; requiring that license plate s for UTVs 19
comply with specified provisions; providing an 20
effective date. 21
22
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 23
24
Section 1. Section 316.21275, Florida Statutes, is created 25
HB 221 2025
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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
to read: 26
316.21275 Operation of a UTV on certain ro adways.— 27
(1) As used in this section, the term: 28
(a) "Direct supervision" means a person is in the adjacent 29
front passenger seat of the UTV being operated. 30
(b) "Utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" means a vehicle 31
less than 70 inches in width which has a t least two seats 32
allowing passengers to sit in a side -by-side manner, is operated 33
by foot controls and a steering wheel, and is equipped with 34
headlamps, stop lamps, turn signals, tail lamps, rearview 35
mirrors, a windshield, seat belts, and a horn. 36
(2) A UTV may be operated during all hours. 37
(3) A UTV may be operated only upon: 38
(a) A two-lane county road with a posted speed limit of 39
less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 40
use by a county; or 41
(b) A two-lane municipal street with a posted speed limit 42
of less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 43
use by a municipality. 44
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Before making such designation, the responsible county or 46
municipality must first determine that a UTV may safely travel 47
on or cross the public ro ad or street, considering factors 48
including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle 49
traffic using the road or street. 50
HB 221 2025
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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
(4) A person may operate a UTV on the State Highway System 51
only when necessary to cross the highway at an angle of 52
approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the roadway and at 53
a place where a quick and safe crossing can be made. The 54
Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of UTVs 55
on any road in its jurisdiction if it determines that such 56
prohibition is necessar y in the interest of safety. 57
(5) A person may operate a UTV only if he or she possesses 58
a driver license pursuant to s. 322.18, or the person possesses 59
a learner's driver license pursuant to s. 322.1615 and is under 60
the direct supervision of a licensed driver. 61
(6) The owner or operator of a UTV must comply with all of 62
the following requirements and regulations: 63
(a) Obey traffic regulations enumerated in this chapter 64
and operate his or her UTV with due care. 65
(b) Provide proof of ownership under chap ter 317 upon 66
request of a law enforcement officer. 67
(c) Fulfil all insurance requirements pursuant to s. 68
324.022. 69
(d) Ensure that the UTV has the proper license plate 70
pursuant to s. 320.0847. 71
(7) A county or municipality may enact an ordinance 72
regarding UTV operation and equipment which is more restrictive 73
than those requirements enumerated in this section. 74
(8) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of 75
HB 221 2025
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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 UTV on any road or street under its jurisdiction if the 76
governing body of such count y or municipality determines that 77
such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 78
(9) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic 79
infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation, as provided in 80
chapter 318. 81
Section 2. Section 320.08 47, Florida Statutes, is amended 82
to read: 83
320.0847 Mini truck , utility terrain vehicle, and low-84
speed vehicle license plates. — 85
(1) The department shall issue a license plate to the 86
owner or lessee of any vehicle registered as a low -speed vehicle 87
as defined in s. 320.01, or a mini truck as defined in s. 88
320.01, or a utility terrain vehicle as defined in s. 316.21275 89
upon payment of the appropriate license taxes and fees 90
prescribed in s. 320.08. 91
(2) The license plate for a low -speed vehicle, or mini 92
truck, or utility terrain vehicle must shall comply with the 93
provisions of s. 320.06. 94
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 95