Airport Naming Preemption to State Level
Summary
Florida enacted HB 0919 (Chapter 2026-15), preempting naming authority for major commercial service airports from local governments to the state. The bill establishes official names for major airports and requires FAA approval plus agreement execution for any renaming. DOT must annually review naming provisions.
What changed
Florida's HB 0919 (Chapter 2026-15), enacted March 31, 2026, establishes state-level authority over naming major commercial service airports, preempting local government authority. The bill codifies official names for major airports and requires FAA approval and execution of certain agreements before any airport can be renamed. DOT must annually review naming provisions and provide notice to the Legislature. Government records created on or after the effective date must use the state-designated names, which are classified as branding designations.
Local political subdivisions and airport authorities must ensure compliance with the state's official airport names. Any proposed renaming of specified airports requires both FAA approval and execution of required agreements. Airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances even if procedures change. The bill took effect upon signing by the Governor on March 31, 2026.
What to do next
- Align local airport naming policies with state designations under Chapter 2026-15
- Obtain FAA approval and execute required agreements before initiating any airport renaming
- Update government records to use state-designated airport names for documents created after March 31, 2026
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Florida / H0919 Enacted H0919 H Enacted 2026-03-31
Commercial Service Airports
Preempts naming of major commercial service airports to state; provides names for major commercial service airports; provides that renaming specified airport is subject to approval of FAA & execution of certain agreement; provides that such airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances; requires DOT to annually review provisions naming major commercial service airports for certain purpose; requires DOT to provide certain notice to Legislature; provides requirements for such notice; requires that certain government records created on or after certain date use such airport names; specifies that airport names are branding designations; provides that political subdivision is in compliance with certain provisions under specified circumstances.
Bill Details
State Florida
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/919
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Sponsors
Commerce Committee Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee Meg Weinberger (Rep - R) Kim Kendall (Rep - R) Jon Albert (Rep - R) Daniel Alvarez (Rep - R) Doug Bankson (Rep - R) Fabian Basabe (Rep - R) Yvette Benarroch (Rep - R) Dean Black (Rep - R) Omar Blanco (Rep - R) Chuck Brannan (Rep - R) James Buchanan (Rep - R) Ryan Chamberlin (Rep - R) Linda Chaney (Rep - R) William Conerly (Rep - R) Thomas Fabricio (Rep - R) Richard Gentry (Rep - R) Peggy Gossett-Seidman (Rep - R) Sam Greco (Rep - R) J.J. Grow (Rep - R) Berny Jacques (Rep - R) Jennifer Kincart Jonsson (Rep - R) Kiyan Michael (Rep - R) Monique Miller (Rep - R) Danny Nix (Rep - R) Vanessa Oliver (Rep - R) Toby Overdorf (Rep - R) Michael Owen (Rep - R) Bill Partington (Rep - R) Rachel Plakon (Rep - R) Juan Porras (Rep - R) Mike Redondo (Rep - R) Alejandro Rizo (Rep - R) Will Robinson (Rep - R) Michelle Salzman (Rep - R) Judson Sapp (Rep - R) Tyler Sirois (Rep - R) John Snyder (Rep - R) Kevin Steele (Rep - R) Chase Tramont (Rep - R) Susan Valdes (Rep - R) Taylor Yarkosky (Rep - R) Brad Yeager (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-03-31 Chapter No. 2026-15 2026-03-30 Approved by Governor 2026-03-30 Signed by Officers and presented to Governor 2026-02-19 H Ordered enrolled 2026-02-19 H In Messages 2026-02-19 S Immediately certified 2026-02-19 S CS passed; YEAS 25 NAYS 11 2026-02-19 S Read 3rd time 2026-02-19 S Read 2nd time 2026-02-19 S Substituted for CS/CS/SB 706 2026-02-19 S Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading 2026-02-19 S Withdrawn from Rules 2026-02-18 S Received 2026-02-18 S Referred to Rules 2026-02-17 S In Messages 2026-02-17 H CS passed; YEAS 81, NAYS 30 2026-02-17 H Read 3rd time 2026-02-17 H Added to Third Reading Calendar 2026-02-17 H Amendment 110835 Failed 2026-02-17 H Amendment 724111 Failed 2026-02-17 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-10 H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026) 2026-02-04 H Added to Second Reading Calendar 2026-02-04 H 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) 2026-02-04 H Bill referred to House Calendar 2026-02-03 H CS Filed 2026-02-03 H Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) 2026-02-03 H Reported out of Commerce Committee 2026-02-03 H Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee 2026-01-30 H Added to Commerce Committee agenda 2026-01-30 H Now in Commerce Committee 2026-01-30 H Referred to Commerce Committee 2026-01-29 H 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) 2026-01-29 H CS Filed 2026-01-29 H Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) 2026-01-29 H Reported out of Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee 2026-01-28 H Favorable with CS by Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee 2026-01-26 H Added to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee agenda 2026-01-13 H 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 2026-01-12 H Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee 2026-01-12 H Referred to Commerce Committee 2026-01-12 H Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee 2025-12-29 H Filed
Votes
2026-01-28 House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee Yea: 12 Nay: 3 2026-02-03 House Commerce Committee Yea: 16 Nay: 6 2026-02-17 House: Third Reading RCS#509 Yea: 81 Nay: 30 2026-02-19 Senate: Third Reading RCS#41 Yea: 25 Nay: 11
Committee Referrals
2026-01-12 H Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee 2026-01-30 H Commerce Committee
Amendments
2026-01-27 House Committee Amendment #791219 2026-02-11 House Floor Amendment #110835 2026-02-11 House Floor Amendment #724111 2026-02-18 Senate Floor Amendment #216382 2026-02-18 Senate Floor Amendment #534136 2026-02-18 Senate Floor Amendment #692460 2026-02-19 Senate Floor Amendment #802740
Bill Text Versions
2025-12-29 Introduced 2026-01-29 Comm Sub 2026-02-03 Comm Sub 2026-02-19 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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