School Zone and Pedestrian Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata shows conflicting status: one label says 'Passed Legislature,' while another notes it 'Died in Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee.' The effective date of July 1, 2026, is included based on the bill text provided.

School Zone and Pedestrian Safety

Starting October 1, 2026, new crosswalk plans in school zones or on roads with speed limits over 35 mph must include specific traffic warning lights if they are not at a signalized intersection.

What This Bill Does

• Requires design and construction plans for new crosswalks to include certain traffic control devices.
• Applies this rule to school zones or public streets with speed limits over 35 miles per hour.
• Excludes locations that are already at signalized intersections.
• Mandates the use of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, Flashing Beacons, or In-Roadway Warning Lights as defined in traffic manuals.

Who It Names or Affects

• Agencies creating design and construction plans for roads
• Engineers designing crosswalks in school zones or high-speed areas

Terms To Know

Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

A traffic control device defined in Chapter 4J of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons

Traffic lights described in Chapter 4L of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices used to warn drivers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to new design and construction plans, not existing crosswalks.
• It does not apply to intersections that already have traffic signals.
• In-Roadway Warning Lights must be used with other specific lights to improve visibility.

Official Summary Text

School Zone and Pedestrian Safety; Requires that design & construction plans for installation of crosswalks in school zones or on certain streets, roads, or highways include certain traffic control devices.

Current Bill Text

HB 283 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb283-00
Page 1 of 2
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 school zone and pedestrian safety; 2
amending s. 336.045, F.S.; requiring that design and 3
construction plans for the installation of crosswalks 4
in school zones or on certain streets, roads, or 5
highways include certain traffic control devices; 6
providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 336.045, 11
Florida Statutes, to read: 12
336.045 Uniform minimum standards for design, 13
construction, and maintenance; advisory committees.— 14
(7) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning 15
October 1, 2026, all design and construction plans for the 16
installation of a crosswalk in a school zone, or on any public 17
street, road, or highway with a posted speed limit exceeding 35 18
miles per hour, when located at any point other than at a 19
signalized intersection, shall include appropriate traffic 20
control devices that conform to either: 21
(a) Chapter 4J titled "Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons" of the 22
most recent Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and any 23
other applicable standards of the department; or 24
(b) Chapter 4L titled "Rectangular Rapid Flashing 25

HB 283 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb283-00
Page 2 of 2
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

Beacons," Chapter 4S titled "Flashing Beacons," or Chapter 4U 26
titled "In-Roadway Warning Lights" of the most recent Manual on 27
Uniform Traffic Control Devices and any other applicable 28
standards of the department. In-Roadway Warning Lights shall be 29
used in conjunction with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or 30
Flashing Beacons to improve visibility of the crosswalk. 31
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 32