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Florida Governor Vetoes Inmate CDL Training Program Over Safety Concerns

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has rejected legislation that would have established commercial driver's license training for select state prisoners, citing operational and public safety issues. The bill passed both legislative chambers without opposition but faced executive rejection over concerns about Department of Corrections resource allocation. DeSantis stated the program would be "unnecessarily burdensome" for corrections staff required to supervise inmate trainees. The governor also flagged risks associated with incarcerated individuals operating commercial vehicles on public roads. The vetoed provision was part of HB 325, a broader vocational training initiative for prisoners. The CDL program would have targeted nonviolent inmates scheduled for release or those with fewer than two years remaining on sentences. Participants would have needed English proficiency. The state's Department of Transportation would have funded expanded workforce development programs beyond current construction-focused initiatives.