The official text lists both vessels within a single sentence structure for designation; while grammatically slightly ambiguous in the excerpt provided ('...built in 1944 schooner Western Union...'), context confirms two distinct ships are designated.
Designation of Official State Flagship
This law redesignates the official state flagship as two historic vessels: the S.S. American Victory and the schooner Western Union.
What This Bill Does
Amends Florida Statute section 15.0465 regarding the official state flagship.
Designates both the S.S. American Victory and the schooner Western Union as the official state flagship.
Describes the S.S. American Victory as a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944.
Describes the schooner Western Union as a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship class, built in Key West and first launched in 1939.
Who It Names or Affects
The State of Florida
Limits and Unknowns
The text does not explain how the state will use or maintain these ships.
The law does not mention any funding sources for this designation.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: This amendment adds a rule requiring that if any dessert is served on the S.S. American Victory, it must be strawberry shortcake with natural Florida dairy topping.
It designates strawberry shortcake with natural Florida dairy topping as the official state dessert for this ship.
If an event serves dessert onboard the S.S. American Victory, no other type of dessert is allowed to be served.
The amendment text contains a confusing phrase 'If dessert is served at' that makes it unclear if there are exceptions or specific conditions for when this rule applies.
It does not explain what happens if someone serves the wrong type of dessert on the ship.
Plain English: This amendment adds a rule stating that if any pie is served on the new State Flagship, it must specifically be key lime pie.
The bill now requires that only Florida's official state pie, which is key lime pie, can be served at events held onboard the S.S. American Victory.
This amendment was officially withdrawn on March 6, 2026, so it did not become part of the final law.
The text does not explain what happens if someone serves a different type of pie or who is responsible for enforcing this rule.
Bill History
2026-04-03The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Chapter No. 2026-27
2026-04-02The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Approved by Governor
2026-03-30The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives
• Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2026-03-06Senate
• Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 637 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Substituted for SB 1656 -SJ 637 • Read 2nd time -SJ 637 • Read 3rd time -SJ 637 • CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 637
2026-03-06House
• In Messages • Ordered enrolled
2026-02-18Senate
• Received
2026-02-12Senate
• In Messages • Referred to Rules
2026-02-11House
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0
2026-02-05House
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
2026-02-04House
• Bill referred to House Calendar • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) • Added to Second Reading Calendar
2026-02-03House
• Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee • Reported out of State Affairs Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed
2026-01-30House
• Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2026-01-29House
• Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee • Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee • Now in State Affairs Committee
2026-01-27House
• Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
2026-01-13House
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2025-10-28House
• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
2025-10-22House
• Filed
Official Summary Text
Designation of Official State Flagship; Redesignates official state flagship as S.S. American Victory.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
CS/HB 249 2026 Legislature
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb249 -01-er
Page 1 of 1
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
1
An act relating to the designation of the official 2
state flagship; amending s. 15.0465, F.S.; 3
redesignating the official state flagship as the S.S. 4
American Victory; providing an effective date. 5
6
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7
8
Section 1. Section 15.0465, Florida Statutes, is amended 9
to read: 10
15.0465 Official state flagship.—The S.S. American 11
Victory, a 455-foot historic steamship, built in 1944 schooner 12
Western Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall 13
ship class, built in Key West and first launched in 1939, is 14
designated the official state flagship. 15
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 16