Last week, HB 911, sponsored by Representative Kelly Skidmore (D–Boca Raton), unanimously passed out of the Transportation & Modals Subcommittee. HB 911 is now headed for the Infrastructure Strategies Committee as its last committee stop before being sent to the House Floor for full consideration.
If passed into law, the bill creates the Boating Capitol of the World and the Recycle Florida license plates. Fees collected from the sale of the Boating Capitol of the World plate will be distributed to Captain Sandy Yawn Inc., and Recycle Florida Today, Inc respectively. Fees will be used to increase public awareness of maritime employment opportunities, fund maritime workforce instruction and training, and promote professional development and job placement in all sectors of maritime employment. Fees collected for the Recycle Florida plate will be used to increase public awareness about the importance of recycling, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.
“The creation of these two new license plates will recognize and strengthen the huge impact Florida’s boating industry has on the economy and help the state reach its weight-based recycling goal of 75%,” said Representative Skidmore. “Florida’s marine industry brings more than $24.6 billion into our state and more than 270,000 jobs. Strengthening Florida’s blue economy has been a long-time priority for me and this bill aids in ensuring that Florida reaps all the economic rewards that our most valuable resource, water, can provide. Additionally, this bill supports robust, comprehensive, and sustainable recycling programs vital to combating the adverse effects of climate change.”
