Related videos:
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed this Monday the law HB 1093, which establishes the legal and infrastructural framework for the development of vertiports in the state and paves the way for the era of electric flying taxis.
The legislation updates state statutes to include vertiports and their charging systems as eligible projects for public-private partnerships, and authorizes the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to finance up to 100% of the cost of a vertiport when no federal funds are available, or up to 80% if they are.
The law will come into effect on July 1, 2026 and was unanimously approved in both legislative chambers on March 10.
The project sponsor was the representative Leonard Spencer, a Democrat from Gotha whose district encompasses Orange and Osceola counties.
"HB 1093 is a forward-looking infrastructure project designed to ensure that Florida remains the national leader in aerospace and aviation," stated Spencer, who hopes that the first vertiports will begin operating between 2027 and 2028.
The measure is part of a broader federal context. The Trump administration promoted a federal pilot program for the integration of vertical takeoff vehicles in urban areas, in which Florida was chosen as one of the participating states.
Archer Aviation plans a network of air taxis in South Florida, while Joby Aviation has also been selected for early operations in the state, solidifying Florida as the epicenter of urban air transportation in the United States.
These companies are joined by the interest of automotive manufacturers. Hyundai, through its Supernal division, signed a memorandum of understanding with Miami authorities to develop urban air mobility services in the region.
The need for alternatives to land transportation is urgent in Florida. A report revealed that traffic forces drivers to waste nearly two weeks a year stuck in traffic in the Miami metropolitan area, one of the most congested in the country.
The FDOT already has a detailed roadmap for this sector. Its Advanced Air Mobility Business Plan, published in November 2025, outlines investment priorities and technical criteria for the construction and operation of vertiports throughout the state.
Filed under: