Section 405(b) occupant protection grant (23 C.F.R. § 1300.21; 23 U.S.C. § 405(b)) ― grant to support certain costs of state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the State of Florida Department of Transportation $936,726.47 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant program (CFDA 20.616, National Priority Safety Programs). The award supports occupant protection programs through September 30, 2029, with place of performance in Nashville, Tennessee.

Under the statutory apportionment formula for Section 405(b), Florida qualifies as either a high or low seat belt use state and receives funding to support costs of state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 CFR 1300.21(f). The award is conditioned on an approved triennial highway safety plan detailing problem identification, public participation, performance measures, and countermeasure strategies, along with an approved annual grant application outlining planned projects. Funded activities target reduction of crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes through occupant protection countermeasures.

Federal reimbursement occurs on a claims basis for documented costs incurred. Recipients must retain records for three years following submission of final expenditure reports, project deliverables, contract documents, financial records, and supporting documentation pending resolution of any audit findings. All fund transfers occur through Electronic Transfer of Funds.

Section 405(b) funding is available to qualifying states that meet statutory requirements for a high or low seat belt use categories. These funds are apportioned using statutory apportionment formula. These funds are provided to the state and territorial highway safety offices based on an approved triennial highway safety plan that details problem identification, public participation and engagement, performance measures, countermeasure strategies for programming funds and an approved annual grant application that details planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies for programming funds to help reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.