Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H53: Rapid Rail Transit Compact
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Authorizes Governor to execute rapid rail transit compact with specified states, to join Southern Rail Commission & provides form of compact.
What the bill says
An act relating to a rapid rail transit compact; creating s. 351.41, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing the form of the compact; providing an effective date.
From the introduced text, September 29, 2025:
An act relating to a rapid rail transit compact; creating s. 351.41, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing the form of the compact; providing an effective date. WHEREAS, North Florida has lacked passenger rail service since September 2005, when track damage from Hurricane Katrina led to the termination of Amtrak's Sunset Limited route, which ran from New Orleans to Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Orlando, and WHEREAS, the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), formed by the United States Congress in 1982, has evolved over time with a vision to "promote the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods to enhance economic development along rail corridors; provide transportation choices; and facilitate emergency evacuation routes," and WHEREAS, the States of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi are members of the SRC, and WHEREAS, the SRC has been highly successful in collaborating with Amtrak and other partners to obtain federal funding for the restoration of passenger rail service in its member states, including $178 million in federal grant funding in September 2023 to restore passenger rail service from New HB 53 2026 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb53-00 Page 2 of FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES Orleans, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, and WHEREAS, the new route between New Orleans and …
Sponsors
- Hinson, Yvonne (D, HD-021) · primary sponsor
- Hinson (D, 21) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died in Commerce Committee
- : Now in Commerce Committee
- : Reported out of Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- : Favorable by Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- : Added to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee agenda
- : 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
- : Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- : Referred to Commerce Committee
- : Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
- : Filed
Votes
- House: Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee (February 4, 2026): 13 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House: Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee (February 4, 2026): 13 yea, 1 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H53?
- H53 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Rapid Rail Transit Compact.
- What does H53 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to a rapid rail transit compact; creating s. 351.41, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to execute a rapid rail transit compact with specified states to join the Southern Rail Commission; providing the form of the compact; providing an effective date.
- What is the status of H53?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Commerce Committee (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H53?
- Hinson, Yvonne (D, HD-021), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for H53?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/53
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.