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 $133,763.89 under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant program on October 1, 2025, to support state occupant protection initiatives consistent with the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616).

The award funds projects and countermeasure strategies designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Florida qualified for this formula grant as a state meeting statutory seat belt use category requirements. The funding is obligated through the period of performance ending September 30, 2029, with place of performance at the agency's headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida.

The Section 405(b) program requires states to submit an approved triennial highway safety plan identifying problems, detailing public participation strategies, establishing performance measures, and laying out countermeasure strategies, along with an approved annual grant application specifying planned projects. NHTSA has up to 60 days to review and approve these applications, with annual submissions due August 1. The federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers for costs incurred. The State is required to retain project records for three years following submission of a final expenditure report.

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.