ORLANDO, Fla. – A law passed just last year has sparked a new type of disabled parking permit in Florida, leading to thousands of placards being issued.
The new permit stems from a law that took effect on July 1, 2025, which allows the state to give out temporary disabled parking placards to expectant mothers.
These permits are valid for up to one year and cost $15. To apply for one, pregnant mothers must fill out a form on the FLHSMV website.
On Monday, state officials told News 6 that 9,722 of these permits have been issued since the law first went into effect.
| Month | Expectant mother parking permit transactions |
|---|---|
| June | 8 |
| July | 1,371 |
| August | 2,376 |
| September | 1,865 |
| October | 1,680 |
| November | 1,109 |
| December | 1,313 |
Supporters like Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota), who wrote companion legislation for this law last year, say the law addresses real challenges for expectant mothers.
“As someone who was pregnant in the Florida hot summer, I struggled as I sweat and waddled across a parking lot nine months pregnant,” McFarland explained. “Rather than complain about a problem without a solution, I realized I had the power to help women like me.”
[BELOW: Florida’s new law could make finding parking spots harder]
However, opponents of the law argue that it could result in fewer parking spaces for disabled people who need them.
The pushback has even resulted in a federal lawsuit against the state, which contends that the new policies could result in at least a 20^ increase in the number of placards that are issued.