Have the Flordia driving laws changed?

No-you don't have to be 17, but you must have had your lerner's license (without any moving violations) for at least one year.

This is from the site you listed:

Operator’s License (16 and 17 year old) - To earn an operator’s license, you must be at least 16 years old AND have held a learner’s license for at least one year without any traffic convictions.

You must provide:

A Florida Learner’s License or a license from another jurisdiction.

Parent or guardian certification that you have at least 50 hours of behind the wheel driving experience, of which 10 hours must be at night.

You are required to take:

Driving test and perform certain driving maneuvers. Please refer to the Florida Driver Handbook for specifics or present a waiver from an accepted driver education course.

With your Operator’s License, you may:

16 years old – only drive between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat, or you are traveling to or from work.

17 years old – only drive between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m., unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and occupies the front passenger seat, or you are traveling to or from work.

regrettably specific, i became into born in 1993, yet I see my classmates who're a million-2 years older than me getting their liscence. My classmates are lots much less mature and much less clever, yet yet i won't be in a position of by way of fact of my age? they might desire to do it by way of different potential rather of age.