Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Support Florida Veterans and Their Families
Jun 24, 2024
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 725 and House Bill 1329 to support Florida’s veterans and their families through services for veterans transitioning to civilian life, ensuring spouses can enjoy long-term care together, and expanding benefits available for 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 has 1,102 skilled nursing and assisted living beds in nine state Veterans’ Nursing Homes across the state, with a tenth home under construction. State Veterans’ Nursing Homes provide valuable services for veterans and their families, including 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. Specifically, this bill designates that Florida is for Veterans, Inc. (Veterans Florida), a non-profit within the FDVA created to help military veterans transition to civilian life. It serves as the state’s initial point of contact for military transition assistance for veterans and their spouses reaching the end of their service career.
The bill increases Veterans Florida’s board of directors from nine to eleven members with new appointees allocated by both the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. It revises the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program to match veterans and spouses with businesses within their preferred market and industry; encourage entrepreneurship; prioritize grant funds for training, certification, licenses; allow businesses participating in the program to receive grants under other state-run programs; authorize Veterans Florida to assist state agencies in recruiting veteran talent into their workforce; maximize veteran access to benefits; services; training; education.
Additionally, it creates a fee exemption on hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability. Public school instruction on the history and importance of Veterans Day and Memorial Day is now required. The Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program is created and funded to record stories of Florida’s veterans for future generations.
“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 into our State Veterans’ Homes is another great accomplishment keeping Florida as one of the most Veteran friendly states in the Nation. In addition, HB 1329 creates new awareness programs honoring our State’s Veterans while expanding earned benefits.”
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 24/7 counsel call National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 988 then press 1 or call Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFL Vet (1-844-693-5838) or dial 211.