HB 543

As amended 3/4/2026: - Requires the Department of Transportation to increase the minimum perception reaction time of all steady yellow signals by 0.4 seconds. - Prohibits seaports near spaceport territory from converting land or facilities that support cargo purposes to an alternative use without meeting certain conditions, including legislative approval. - Authorizes a private entity to install an automated license plate recognition system on property it owns or controls for public safety purposes and places restrictions on the data generated. - Requires every motor vehicle required by federal law to be equipped with an exhaust system to at all times be equipped with and maintain an exhaust system in good working order including muffler, manifold pipe, and tailpiping to prevent excessive or unusual noise. - Prohibits an exhaust system from allowing excessive or unusual exhaust noise at a level plainly audible from a distance of 100 feet or more from the vehicle. - Establishes new security, privacy, and data minimization requirements for the state's digital driver's license and identification card system. - Allows a golf cart that is converted into a low-speed vehicle to be titled and registered for operation on roads with speed limits not exceeding 35mph without inspection by DHSMV, if the owner of the converted vehicle submits a written affidavit that the vehicle complies with the requirements for classification as a low-speed vehicle. - Authorizes local governments to allow operation of golf carts at crossings. - Allows a school zone speed limit to be enforced through the use of a speed detection system when any flashing beacon used to provide notice of the restricted school zone speed limit is activated. - Removes the requirement that a municipality cannot set a speed limit lower than 20 or 25 mph on local streets or highways following a traffic investigation, or in certain business or residence districts. - NOTE: 2/17 amendment removes language creating the Next-generation Traffic Signal Modernization Grant Program and appropriating $20 million annually to assist local governments in upgrading traffic signals with artificial intelligence.