A transportation bill working its way through the Florida Legislature to address the Department of Transportation's future plans for high-speed highways includes raising the state's maximum speed limit.

If an amendment added to SB 462 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Pinellas sticks, it would raise speed limits by 5 mph across the state, raising the max speed in Florida to 75 mph.

Raising the state speed limit is a common request during state legislative sessions, with at least seven states seeking to raise theirs last year. A bill raising Florida's speed limit passed the legislature in 2014 but then-Gov. Rick Scott vetoed it , citing concerns from law enforcement.

“I strongly respect the opinion of state and local law enforcement officers who have contacted me to warn about the possible serious negative consequences should this bill become law," Scott said in his veto message. "While the evidence suggests that increased driving speeds are not the sole cause of traffic accidents, they clearly contribute to the increased severity of vehicle crash outcomes in the form of needless injuries and deaths.”

The amendment does not appear on a companion bill ( HB 567 ) in the House from Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota.

What would the Florida speed limit proposal do?

Is raising Florida's speed limit safe?

Law enforcement and safety organizations have spoken against raising speed limits. Multiple studies, such as a 2021 from AAA, found that higher speeds increase the driver’s risk of severe injury or death.

“Higher speed limits cancel out the benefits of vehicle safety improvements like airbags and improved structural designs,” said Dr. David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “The faster a driver is going before a crash, the less likely it is that they’ll be able to get down to a survivable speed even if they have a chance to brake before impact.”

A 2019 IIHS study found that rising speed limits have cost nearly 37,000 lives over 25 years.

Which US states have speed limits of 75 mph or more?

Seven states — Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming — have maximum speed limits of 80 mph.

By law, the Texas Transportation Commission may set a speed limit up to 85 mph if the roadway is designed to accommodate that speed safely, although that hasn't happened yet.

What is Florida's SB 462 , Department of Transportation bill?

When would Florida's new speed limit take effect?

If the amendment stays in, the bill passes and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it, it becomes law on July 1, 2025.