A measure designed to increase aerospace contractors in the state has rocketed through the House, but it remains to be seen if the Senate will abort the mission.
House lawmakers unanimously approved the bill (HB 1177). The goal of the legislation is to provide more autonomy at each installation in the state to promote space development growth.
The bill’s sponsor, Merritt Island Republican Rep. Tyler Sirois, said the Sunshine State shouldn’t assume that aerospace contractors will settle on doing business in Florida.
“Florida faces incredible competition from Alabama, Texas, Arizona (and) other states in terms of their approach and aggressiveness in capturing commercial aerospace business. So, as you all consider policies for next year, I would encourage you to make sure Florida remains ahead of the curve,” Sirois said on the House floor.
The bill language says contracting authority over spaceports in Florida “shall be vested in the spaceport director or commander for that facility.” Development and program expansion plans for each spaceport facility in Florida would need to be submitted to Space Florida for review, but those plans would not be “subject for approval by Space Florida,” per the legislation.
The bill is designed to grow the number of aerospace companies hooked into space projects in Florida and comes amid record-breaking aerospace activity. In 2025, Space Florida oversaw a new high of 109 launches from Sunshine State facilities.
A similar bill in the Senate (SB 1512) was only approved by the Military and Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security Committee. Two other Committees did not take up the measure. The legislation has not yet been scheduled for review on the Senate floor.
