develoPmentSinFloridadiSaBilitylaw( 2026): hB543
Diversity Committee Co-Chairs: TimMartin – MartinLawOffice, P. A. & KatariBuck – AsiaticoLawLLC
ultimately, thislegislative changewouldhelpdriverswith disabilitieswhoneedextra roomtosafelyenterorexit theirvehicles.
Amidst rising concerns over fraudulent use of disabled parking permits, Florida lawmakers sought to clarify disabled parking rules in their most recent 2026 session. The first draft of Florida House Bill 543 was filed on November 25, 2025, and recently passed in the house on March 4, 2026. Sponsored by Representative Fiona McFarland, HB 543 is a major 2026 transportation package totaling up to( 68) sixty-eight pages and focusing on safety, vehicle regulations, and improvements to disabled parking.
The bill includes a provision that a vehicle that displays a valid disabled parking permit or a license plate and that is equipped with permanently installed mobility access equipment, including but not limited to wheelchair ramps or lifts, may occupy more than one parking space when reasonably necessary to deploy such equipment safely, provided that no designated accessible parking spaces are available of sufficient size to accommodate the vehicle’ s equipment.
Things to note: 1. The vehicle must display a valid parking permit or license plate;
2. The vehicle must not block any vehicular traffic lanes, emergency access routes, fire lanes, or pedestrian access paths; and
3. The vehicle must not create a clear and immediate safety hazard.
Examples of an immediate safety
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member pop-up café: stop by the ferguson law center on may 20 anytime between 7:30 – 9:30 a. m. for a free cup of java, as well as some delicious bagels and sweet treats. no rsVp necessary— just swing by, grab a bite, and say hello!
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