Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 725 and House Bill 1329 today in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, aiming to support veterans and their families. The legislation addresses services for veterans transitioning to civilian life, ensures long-term care options for spouses, and expands benefits available to veterans.
“Florida is committed to remaining the most military- and veteran-friendly state in the nation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We are proud to support those who have bravely served our country, and today’s legislation will help ensure that veterans and their families have the resources they need to successfully transition into civilian life with their loved ones by their side. It will also provide more benefits to veterans and educate future generations on the sacrifices made by service members.”
House Bill 725 expands eligibility for admissions to a veterans’ long-term care facility to include spouses or surviving spouses of qualifying veterans. The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs currently operates nine state Veterans’ Nursing Homes with 1,102 skilled nursing and assisted living beds. A tenth home is under construction, which will give Florida the most state-operated facilities in the nation.
State Veterans’ Nursing Homes offer various services such as skilled nursing and hospice care, adult day health care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, wellness centers, and veteran service offices.
House Bill 1329 focuses on programs that expand benefits for veterans in Florida. This bill designates Veterans Florida as the state's initial point of contact for military transition assistance for veterans and their spouses reaching the end of their service careers. It also increases Veterans Florida’s board of directors from nine to eleven members.
The bill revises the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program by matching veterans and spouses with businesses within their preferred market and industry, encouraging entrepreneurship among veteran-owned small businesses, prioritizing grant funds for training, certification, and licenses, allowing businesses participating in the program to receive grants from other state-run programs, and authorizing Veterans Florida to assist state agencies in recruiting veteran talent.
Additionally, HB 1329 creates a fee exemption on hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability. It requires public school instruction on the history and importance of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The bill also establishes the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program to record and preserve stories of Florida’s veterans.
“Today’s bill signing is an important milestone as we proudly serve Florida’s Veterans with purpose and passion,” said retired Marine Corps Major General James S. Hartsell, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Admitting eligible spouses and surviving spouses into our State Veterans’ Homes is another great accomplishment to keep Florida the most Veteran friendly and sought after state in the Nation. In addition, the Veterans Bill known as HB 1329 also creates new awareness programs honoring our State’s Veterans and expands earned benefits for eligible Veterans and spouses. I commend Governor DeSantis and our legislators for supporting these two key bills.”
For more information regarding benefits available to veterans in Florida, visit FloridaVets.org or contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer at (727) 319-7440 or via email at FDVA.vso@FDVA.fl.gov. For immediate counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 988 (press 1) or the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFL Vet (1-844-693-5838).
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