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HB0291 • 2026

Common Entities of Motor Vehicle Distributors and Manufacturers

Common Entities of Motor Vehicle Distributors and Manufacturers

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
McFarland
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for non-compliance after the effective date.

Common Entities of Motor Vehicle Distributors and Manufacturers

This bill revises the definition of 'common entity' for motor vehicle distributors and manufacturers in Florida.

What This Bill Does

  • Revises the definition of a 'common entity' for motor vehicle companies.
  • Adds exceptions to when an entity can be considered a common entity.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Motor vehicle distributors and manufacturers

Terms To Know

common entity
A person who is directly or indirectly controlled by or has more than 30 percent of its equity interest owned, beneficially or of record, through any form of ownership structure, by a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor, or a licensee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not explain how the changes will be enforced.
  • It's unclear what happens if an entity doesn't meet the new requirements after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

  2. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  3. 2025-11-12 House

    • Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee • Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

  4. 2025-10-31 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Common Entities of Motor Vehicle Distributors and Manufacturers; Revises definition of "common entity."

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 291 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb291-00
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 common entities of motor vehicle 2
distributors and manufacturers; revising the 3
definition of the term "common entity"; providing an 4
effective date. 5
6
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 7
8
Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 320.60, Florida 9
Statutes, is amended to read: 10
320.60 Definitions for ss. 320.61-320.70.—Whenever used in 11
ss. 320.61-320.70, unless the context otherwise requires, the 12
following words and terms have the following meanings: 13
(2)(a) "Common entity" means a person: 14
1. Who is directly or indirectly controlled by or has more 15
than 30 percent of its equity interest directly or indirectly 16
owned, beneficially or of record, through any form of ownership 17
structure, by a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor, or a 18
licensee, or an affiliate thereof; or 19
2. Who has more than 30 percent of its equity interest 20
directly or indirectly controlled or owned, beneficially or of 21
record, through any form of ownership structure, by one or more 22
persons who also directly or indirectly control or own, 23
beneficially or of record, more than 30 percent of the equity 24
interests of a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor, or a 25

HB 291 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb291-00
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

licensee, or an affiliate thereof. 26
(b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph 27
(a)2., an entity that would otherwise be considered a common 28
entity of a distributor or a manufacturer under subparagraph 29
(a)1. or subparagraph (a)2. because of its relation to a 30
distributor or a manufacturer is not considered a common entity 31
of that distributor or manufacturer if: 32
1.a. The distributor to which the entity is related was a 33
licensed distributor on March 1, 2023; 34
b.2. The entity is not a common entity of a manufacturer 35
or an importer; and 36
c.3. The distributor to which the entity is related is 37
not, and has never been, a common entity of a manufacturer or an 38
importer; or 39
2. The entity was incorporated in the United States and 40
solely manufactures or assembles vehicles that are part of a 41
motor vehicle line-make that has no franchised motor vehicle 42
dealers in this state. 43
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 44