POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofstate symbols →
SB 1656FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 249

Designating the S.S. American Victory as the Official State Flagship

Original title: Designation of the Official State Flagship

January 9, 2026

state symbolsmaritime historytourismFlorida historyexecutive branch

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 249. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

12 actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
  2. Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
  3. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
  4. Feb 12, 2026Senate
    Now in Rules
  5. Feb 11, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
  6. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 02/11/26, 3:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
Show 6 earlier actions
  1. Jan 27, 2026Senate
    Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
  2. Jan 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable by Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; YEAS 4 NAYS 0
  3. Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced
  4. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 301 Senate Building
  5. Jan 16, 2026SenateCommittee
    Referred to Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules
  6. Jan 9, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The designation provides official state recognition to the S.S. American Victory, a 455-foot historic vessel that serves as a tourist destination and educational platform in Tampa.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

The Victory Ship, Inc.

The organization manages the vessel that is the subject of the official state designation.

Tampa residents

Local community members and organizations utilize the ship for educational and ceremonial purposes.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 9, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill proposes to officially designate the S.S. American Victory, a historic 1944 steamship currently serving as a maritime museum in Tampa, as the official state of Florida. The legislation amends existing state statutes to recognize the vessel's historical service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the S.S. American Victory?
It is a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 that currently serves as an interactive maritime museum in Tampa.
Did this bill become law?
No. The bill was on March 6, 2026, and replaced by a substitute bill, CS/HB 249.

Why It Matters

The designation provides official state recognition to the S.S. American Victory, a 455-foot historic vessel that serves as a tourist destination and educational platform in Tampa.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededsenate2/24/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable

Total

28

Yes

26

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededsenate2/11/2026legiscanOfficial roll call ↗

Favorable

Total

9

Yes

9

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededsenate1/26/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable

Total

5

Yes

4

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference100% confidence

Legislative Substitution

The bill was effectively replaced by CS/HB 249, indicating that the legislative intent was moved to a companion or substitute measure.

SB 1656CS/HB 249

Connected Entities

organizationRules“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
locationKnott Building“Meeting location”Map →
organizationGovernmental Oversight and Accountability“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →
locationSenate Building“Meeting location”Map →
organizationMilitary and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy5
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record