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HB0101 • 2026

Utility Terrain Vehicles

Utility Terrain Vehicles

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Gentry
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Government Operations Subcommittee
Effective date
2027-01-01

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Rules for Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs)

This bill sets rules for operating utility terrain vehicles on certain roads and highways in Florida.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines what a UTV is, including its size and equipment requirements.
  • Allows UTUs to be driven at any time of day.
  • Permits UTUs to drive on specific county or municipal roads with speed limits under 55 mph if the local government says it's safe.
  • Limits where UTUs can cross state highways for safety reasons, but allows DOT to ban them from certain roads entirely.
  • Requires drivers to have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit and be supervised by an adult.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or operate UTVs in Florida
  • Local governments that can set rules for UTUs on their roads

Terms To Know

UTV
A vehicle less than 70 inches wide with at least two seats, foot controls, and safety equipment like lights and mirrors.
Direct supervision
When a licensed driver sits next to the person driving a UTV.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify penalties for breaking these rules.
  • Local governments can make their own stricter rules about UTUs in addition to this law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Government Operations Subcommittee

  2. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  3. 2025-10-14 House

    • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee

  4. 2025-10-07 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Utility Terrain Vehicles; Authorizes utility terrain vehicle (UTV) to be operated during all hours; authorizes operation of UTVs on certain roadways & on certain parts of State Highway System; authorizes DOT to prohibit use of UTVs under certain circumstances; authorizes persons possessing certain licenses to operate UTV; requires owners or operators of UTV to comply with certain requirements & regulations; authorizes county or municipality to restrict operation of UTVs under certain circumstances; provides civil penalties; requires DHSMV to issue license plate to owner or lessee of vehicle registered as UTV upon payment of certain taxes & fees; requires that license plates for UTVs comply with specified provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 101 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb101-00
Page 1 of 4
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 plates 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 101 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

to read: 26
316.21275 Operation of a UTV on certain roadways.— 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 at 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
45
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 road or street, considering factors 48
including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle 49
traffic using the road or street. 50

HB 101 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

(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 necessary 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 chapter 317 upon 66
request of a law enforcement officer. 67
(c) Fulfill all insurance requirements pursuant to ss. 68
324.022 and 627.736. 69
(d) Ensure that the UTV has the proper license plate 70
pursuant to s. 320.0847. 71
(e) Maintain the registration certificate or a copy 72
thereof in the UTV pursuant to s. 320.0605. 73
(7) A county or municipality may enact an ordinance 74
regarding UTV operation and equipment which is more restrictive 75

HB 101 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

than those requirements enumerated in this section. 76
(8) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of 77
a UTV on any road or street under its jurisdiction if the 78
governing body of such county or municipality determines that 79
such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 80
(9) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic 81
infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation, as provided in 82
chapter 318. 83
Section 2. Section 320.0847, Florida Statutes, is amended 84
to read: 85
320.0847 Mini truck, utility terrain vehicle, and low-86
speed vehicle license plates.— 87
(1) The department shall issue a license plate to the 88
owner or lessee of any vehicle registered as a low-speed vehicle 89
as defined in s. 320.01, or a mini truck as defined in s. 90
320.01, or a utility terrain vehicle as defined in s. 91
316.21275(1) upon payment of the appropriate license taxes and 92
fees prescribed in s. 320.08. 93
(2) The license plate for a low-speed vehicle, or mini 94
truck, or utility terrain vehicle must shall comply with the 95
provisions of s. 320.06. 96
Section 3. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 97