Protect the Integrity of Florida's Teen Licensing Law

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Florida road users need you to take action.

Florida’s newly passed bill, SB 994, was designed to strengthen the education teen drivers received before getting a learner’s driver license. The bill updates Florida Statute §322.1615 requiring teens to complete a formal course before earning a learner's driver license. The intent of the law was clear: make the FLDOE’s Driver Education a core component of teen licensure to improve the level of training required of teens.

But now, that intent is at risk.

What’s the Issue?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) announced that a new six-hour course, Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course will meet the licensing requirement in §322.1615.

This decision drastically undercuts the law. SB 994 references CPALMS course 1900300, which is clearly designated as a .5 credit, semester-long course. According to Florida Statute 1003.436, a .5 credit course requires at least 67.5 hours of instruction.

Six hours is not a semester.
Six hours is not adequate for teen safety.

Why It Matters

Teens need more than six hours to adequately come to understand the version requirements outlined by the FLDOE. They need meaningful instruction that prepares them for the road - including risk recognition, defensive driving, and responsible decision-making and the depth of understanding and mastery that helps reduce their driving risk.

By lowering the bar to six hours, the FLHSMV sends the wrong message: that Driver Education/Traffic Safety can be rushed and that Driver Education/Traffic Safety does not require time or depth. This contradicts both the language and the spirit of §322.1615.

ADTSEA-FL's Position

On June 23rd, 2025, the ADTSEA-FL board agreed to strongly oppose FLHSMV's decision and are calling on our members, stakeholders, and the public to take action.

• The .5 credit / semester course standard must be upheld — 60 to 67.5 instructional hours.
• The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) must clarify what constitutes a “semester” in the Driver Education / Traffic Safety course description.
• The FLHSMV must revise its DETS certification process to align with state education law and legislative intent.

What You Can Do

We need your voice. Use our model communication to write your own message to the officials who can make a difference.

Choose who to contact:

• FLHSMV
  • Driver Education, Process Improvement and Accountability Office
    • Driver-Education@flhsmv.gov or at 850.617.2598
• FLDOE
  • Contact the FLDOE
• Bill Sponsors
  • Senator Jay Collins - Contact Senator Collins
  • Representative Michelle Salzman- Contact Rep. Salzman
• Your Representatives
  • Find Your Senator - Look up here
  • Find Your Representative - Look up here

We encourage you to:

• Use your own voice, opinion, and story.
• Be respectful, but firm.
• Use these Florida Documents as references to deepen your understanding:
  • SB 994
  • §322.1615
  • §1003.436
  • FLDOE Driver Education / Traffic Safety Course Description

Increase Teen Education. Preserve Legislative Intent.

SB 994 was meant to strengthen teen learner's driver license requirements - not move them from a 4-hour Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course to a 6-hour DETS course. Help us restore the promise and intent of the law by demanding real standards for Florida's next generation of drivers.