Manufacturing

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 528

By
Senator Truenow

13-00485B-26 2026528__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to manufacturing; amending s. 20.60,
3 F.S.; revising the duties of the Department of
4 Commerce; creating s. 20.602, F.S.; establishing the
5 Chief Manufacturing Officer among the senior
6 leadership of the department for a specified purpose;
7 providing that the Chief Manufacturing Officer is
8 appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
9 Secretary of Commerce; providing the duties of the
10 Chief Manufacturing Officer; requiring all state and
11 local governmental entities to assist the Chief
12 Manufacturing Officer within certain constraints;
13 requiring the department to prepare a specified report
14 and submit it to the Governor and the Legislature by a
15 specified date, and every 2 years thereafter; creating
16 s. 288.103, F.S.; creating the Florida Manufacturers’
17 Workforce Development Grant Program within the
18 department; providing that the grant program is under
19 the direction of the Chief Manufacturing Officer in
20 consultation with the National Institute of Standards
21 and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership
22 organization in this state; providing a purpose for
23 the grant program; requiring the department, in
24 coordination with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and
25 the National Institute of Standards and Technology
26 Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization in
27 this state, to review submitted applications and to
28 select specified projects; providing that the
29 department has sole discretion in final grant awards;
30 requiring the department, in coordination with the
31 Chief Manufacturing Officer and the National Institute
32 of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
33 Partnership organization in this state, to establish
34 and publish ranking metrics for reviewing and awarding
35 grants; providing guidelines for such metrics;
36 requiring that priority be given to projects that meet
37 certain criteria; authorizing applicants to seek
38 funding for a specified purpose; prohibiting such
39 funding from being used for certain expenses;
40 requiring the department to administer the grant
41 awards from the Economic Development Trust Fund;
42 requiring the department to annually provide a list to
43 the public of specific information regarding the grant
44 program; requiring the department to include certain
45 information in its annual incentives report;
46 authorizing the department to adopt rules; creating s.
47 288.1031, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
48 defining terms; creating the Florida Manufacturing
49 Promotional Campaign within the department; requiring
50 the Chief Manufacturing Officer to administer the
51 campaign in coordination with the National Institute
52 of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
53 Partnership organization in this state; providing the
54 purpose of the campaign; requiring the department to
55 take certain actions to promote the campaign;
56 requiring persons who participate in the campaign to
57 register annually with the department; requiring the
58 department to establish by rule the form and manner of
59 registration; requiring the department to adopt rules
60 to implement and administer the campaign; requiring
61 the department annually to create a specified report
62 and submit it to the Governor and the Legislature as
63 part of its annual report; providing an effective
64 date.
65
66 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
67
68 Section 1. Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (4) of
69 section 20.60, Florida Statutes, to read:
70 20.60 Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.—
71 (4) The purpose of the department is to assist the Governor
72 in working with the Legislature, state agencies, business
73 leaders, and economic development professionals to formulate and
74 implement coherent and consistent policies and strategies
75 designed to promote economic opportunities for all Floridians.
76 The department is the state’s chief agency for business
77 recruitment and expansion and economic development. To
78 accomplish such purposes, the department shall:
79
(m) Encourage and oversee manufacturing in this state in

80
coordination with the Chief Manufacturing Officer.

81 Section 2. Section 20.602, Florida Statutes, is created to
82 read:
83
20.602

Chief Manufacturing Officer
.—

84
(1)

There
is
designated among the senior leadership of the

85
Department of Commerce a Chief Manufacturing Officer for the

86
purpose of supporting the manufacturing ecosystem statewide. The

87
Chief Manufacturing Officer
is
appointed by and serve
s
at the

88
pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.

89
(2)

The Chief Manufacturing Officer shall
do all of the

90
following
:

91
(a)

Serve as a subject-matter expert for the state on

92
issues related to manufacturing.

93
(b)

Promote and coordinate manufacturing efforts in this

94
state and identify gaps
across state-supported activities.

95
(c)

Provide strategic direction for interagency and cross

96
disciplinary initiatives to promote and support manufacturing in

97
this state.

98
(d)

Work with federal, state, regional, and local

99
governmental entities and nongovernmental entities to align

100
manufacturing priorities.

101
(e)

Engage with state agencies and water management

102
districts to
create
processes, programs, decision frameworks,

103
and reporting mechanisms intended to support manufacturing in

104
this state.

105
(f)

Collaborate with the Department of Education, school

106
districts, charter schools, technical colleges, state colleges,

107
and regional workforce development boards to promote

108
manufacturing as a career path. Such collaboration must include

109
all of the following
:

110
1.

Supporting curriculum development and career awareness

111
initiatives in elementary and middle schools, including

112
classroom resources, career fairs, and outreach activities

113
designed to inspire interest in manufacturing.

114
2.

Establishing technology demonstration centers, work

115
based learning opportunities, and exposure to manufacturing

116
careers through partnerships with guidance counselors and

117
recognized career exploration programs, including Project Lead

118
T
he Way.

119
3.

Preserving and expanding manufacturing programs in high

120
schools, promoting dual enrollment and industry certifications,

121
and ensuring that course selection and
grade point average

122
weighting policies encourage
students to pursue,
rather than

123
discoura
ge them
from pursuing
,
manufacturing tracks.

124
4.

Funding and supporting regional manufacturing training

125
centers to provide multiple entry points for careers in

126
manufacturing, including awareness initiatives for

127
underrepresented populations and individuals reentering the

128
workforce.

129
5
.

Reenergizing the marketing and promotion of

130
manufacturing careers in coordination with the Florida

131
Manufacturing Promotional Campaign
created in
s. 288.1031, using

132
messaging tailored to the interests and language of today’s

133
youth.

134
(3)

All state and local governmental entities shall assist

135
the Chief Manufacturing Officer to the extent such assistance is

136
consistent with law and with budgetary constraints.

137
(4)

The department shall prepare a report, in consultation

138
with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and
the
National Institute

139
of Standards and Technology
Manufacturing Extension Partnership

140
organization in this state
, regarding manufacturing efforts in

141
this state. The department shall submit the report to the

142
Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

143
House of Representatives by December 15, 2027, and every 2 years

144
thereafter. The report must include information regarding the

145
strength and economic importance of the manufacturing industry

146
in this state.

147 Section 3. Section 288.103, Florida Statutes, is created to
148 read:
149
288.103
Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Grant

150
Program.—

151
(
1
) The Florida Manufacturers
’
Workforce Development Grant

152
Program is created within the
D
epartment
of Commerce
, under the

153
direction of the Chief Manufacturing Officer in consultation

154
with
the
National Institute of Standards and Technology

155
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
organization in this state
,

156
to fund proposed projects, subject to appropriation by the

157
Legislature,
which
support small manufacturers
in this state

158
with the deployment of
new technologies
or
cybersecurity

159
infrastructure and to
strengthen the manufacturing workforce

160
pipeline from elementary education through postsecondary

161
training
and
workforce
reentry
.

162
(
2
) The department, in coordination with the Chief

163
Manufacturing Officer and
the
National Institute of Standards

164
and Technology
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
organization

165
in this state
, shall review
submitted
applications and select

166
projects for awards which create strategic investments in

167
workforce training
and education partnerships
to facilitate the

168
deployment of new technologies
or
cybersecurity infrastructure

169
and to expand career awareness and preparation for manufacturing

170
occupations across the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce

171
training systems
.
Final grant awards are made at the sole

172
discretion of the department.

173
(
3
)

The department, in coordination with the Chief

174
Manufacturing Officer and
the National Institute of Standards

175
and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization

176
in this state
, shall establish and publish ranking metrics for

177
reviewing grants and awarding them to applicants on a

178
competitive basis. Metrics may include the number of employees,

179
matching funds pledged by the applicant, and expected benefits

180
from the grant award.
Priority must be given to projects with

181
innovative plans, advanced technologies, and development

182
strategies that focus on workforce development for small

183
manufacturers across
this
state
and that include one or more of

184
the following:

185
(a)

Establishment or
expansion of regional manufacturing

186
training centers
.

187
(b)

Partnerships with the Department of Education, school

188
districts, charter schools, technical colleges, and state

189
colleges to support manufacturing curricula, dual enrollment,

190
and industry certification programs
.

191
(c)

Development of elementary and middle school career

192
awareness programs, including technology demonstration centers

193
and guidance counselor resources
.

194
(d)

Outreach and training programs targeting

195
underrepresented populations, including reentry populations
.

196
(e)
Marketing and promotion of manufacturing careers

197
consistent with s. 288.1031.

198
(
4
) Applicants may seek funding for workforce development

199
and operations
;

however,
grant funding awarded under this

200
section may not be used to pay salary and benefits or general

201
business or office expenses. Grants awarded under th
e
program

202
shall be
administered by the department
from the Economic

203
Development Trust Fund established in s. 288.095
.

204
(
5
) The department shall annually provide a list
to the

205
public
of each project awarded
a grant
, the benefit of each

206
project in meeting the goals and objectives of the program, and

207
the current status of each project. The department
shall
include

208
such information in
the
annual incentives report required under

209
s. 288.0065.

210
(
6
)

The department may adopt rules to implement this

211
section.

212 Section 4. Section 288.1031, Florida Statutes, is created
213 to read:
214
288.1031
Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign.—

215
(1)
The Legislature finds that there is a need for
a

216
campaign
to increase consumer awareness of manufacturing

217
activities
in this state
,
to
expand market exposure fo
r

218
manufactured products and goods
in this state
, and
to
inspire

219
future generations of entrepreneurs, fabricators
,
and skilled

220
workers to build and grow domestic businesses and manufacturing

221
operations in
this state
. The Legislature further finds that
a

222
campaign that creates a partnership
between
the state and

223
manufacturers in this state

is necessary
to promote and

224
advertise
manufactured
products

efficiently.

225
(2)
As used in
this section
, the term:

226
(
a
) “Manufactured product” means any tangible personal

227
property
or consumer good, whether a durable or nondurable good,

228
that has been
processed,
fabricated
,
or produced, often through

229
industrial or mechanical processes. Th
e term
includes items sold

230
or leased to consumers.

231
(
b
) “Person” means an individual,
a
firm,
a
partnership,
a

232
corporation,
an
association,
a
business,
a
trust,
a
legal

233
representative, or any other business unit.

234
(3) The Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign is

235
created within the department.

The Chief Manufacturing Officer

236
shall administer the campaign in coordination with
the
National

237
Institute of Standards and Technology
Manufacturing Extension

238
Partnership
organization in this state. The purpose of the

239
campaign is to serve as a voluntary marketing program to promote

240
manufacturing products and businesses in this state.

241
(4) The department shall do all of the following:

242
(a) Develop logos for the campaign and authorize the use of

243
such logos by rule.

244
(b) Create promotional materials for the campaign.

245
(c) Register campaign participants.

246
(d) Develop in-kind advertising programs.

247
(e) Contract with media representatives for the purpose of

248
dispersing promotional materials.

249
(5) A person who produces manufactured product
s
may

250
par
ticipate in the campaign only by registering
annually
with

251
the department. The department shall establish by rule the form

252
and manner of registration.

253
(6)

The department shall adopt rules to implement and

254
administer the campaign. By rule, the department shall establish

255
the logos or product identifiers to be depicted for use in the

256
campaign for advertising, publicizing, and promoting the sale of

257
manufactured products in this state. The department shall also

258
adopt rules necessary to ensure compliance with the campaign
and

259
to govern participant registration.

260
(7)

The
department shall annually create a
report
on the

261
success of the campaign, including
detailed performance measures

262
and outcomes, sources of in-kind advertising, contracts related

263
to disbursement of promotional materials, the names of persons

264
participating in the campaign, and other information for
the

265
campaign
. The
department shall submit the
report as part of the

266
annual report required
in
s. 20.60
2(4)
.

267 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.