Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Applauds Unanimous Advancement of HB 841 to Modernize Vehicle Registration
This week marked a significant step forward in modernizing Florida’s vehicle registration system as House Bill 841 advanced unanimously through the Florida House Government Operations Subcommittee. The bipartisan measure would eliminate the outdated yellow registration decal, a requirement that no longer serves a meaningful purpose in today’s electronically driven enforcement environment.
For Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, whose office processes one of the highest volumes of vehicle registrations in the state, the vote represents a long-overdue acknowledgment that government systems must evolve with technology.
“For years, law enforcement has verified registration electronically and in real time,” Fernandez said. “The physical yellow decal no longer contributes to safety or compliance. Instead, it has added unnecessary cost, delays, and administrative burdens for residents and local offices.”
The yellow decal, once an essential enforcement tool, has become obsolete in an era where officers rely on in-vehicle systems to instantly confirm registration status. Maintaining the physical sticker requires printing, tracking, mailing, storing, and replacing millions of decals annually—costs that are ultimately passed on to taxpayers.
From an operational perspective, eliminating the decal would allow tax collector offices to reallocate time and resources toward higher priorities, including customer service, fraud prevention, and efficient processing. For residents, it means fewer errors, fewer trips to an office, and fewer frustrations, particularly for seniors, working families, and individuals with limited mobility.
In Miami-Dade County alone, the change is expected to save close to $3 million each year by reducing wasteful administrative expenses while improving service delivery across the board.
HB 841 reflects the same modernization principles already being applied within the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office: leveraging technology, simplifying compliance, and removing outdated, paper-based processes that no longer serve the public. The bill’s unanimous committee vote underscores a rare point of consensus—that practical governance and efficiency can rise above partisanship.
The legislation has also received strong backing from organizations that understand both accountability and enforcement, including the Fraternal Order of Police and Americans for Prosperity. Their support reinforces the reality that modernization strengthens, rather than weakens, oversight and public trust.
Fernandez expressed appreciation for the leadership of Representative Tom Fabricio, the bill’s sponsor, along with co-sponsors Representatives Alex Rizo, José Alvarez, and Susan Valdés. He also thanked Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez for championing the legislation in the Senate.
“This bill proves that when lawmakers focus on results, residents win,” Fernandez said. “Modernizing government does not mean lowering standards. It means delivering smarter, more effective service to the people we serve.”
As HB 841 continues through the legislative process, the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office remains committed to supporting reforms that reduce bureaucracy, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure government works as efficiently as the technology that supports it.
