SB 116 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Veterans

Summary

Veterans; Requiring the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct a study that includes a survey evaluating the extent to which specified persons are aware of certain existing programs or services; requiring the department to ensure coordination to the greatest extent possible with the United States Department of Defense for a specified purpose; revising the purpose of the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program to include specialized mental health training; requiring the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to develop a plan to establish adult day health care facilities across this state to serve veterans and their families, etc. APPROPRIATION: $350,000

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Signed Jun 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 116 c2 → S 116 er · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from a committee version to its enrolled final version, adding specific implementation details, funding amounts, and deadlines that were missing in the earlier draft. The changes clarify how the Department of Veterans' Affairs must conduct studies, coordinate with the military, and report on veteran services.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include specific funding amounts ($50,000 for surveys and $300,000 for training), concrete deadlines (November 1, 2025 for the adult day care plan), and detailed reporting requirements that were not fully specified in the earlier version.

FISCAL

Added specific appropriations of $50,000 for veteran awareness surveys and $300,000 for suicide prevention training program implementation.

TIMELINE

Set a specific deadline of November 1, 2025 for the department to submit its adult day health care facilities plan to the Legislature.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded reporting requirements to include detailed information on veteran service work expenses, cases handled, benefits obtained, and current status of domiciliary and nursing homes.

Added a new requirement for the department to ensure coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense to engage returning servicemembers during reentry into civilian life.

Added a specific requirement for the 2025 annual report to include an evaluation of veteran health literacy and recommendations to increase knowledge of available programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program must train individuals to identify mental health indicators and provide emergency crisis referrals.

S 116 c1 → S 116 c2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision expands the Department of Veterans' Affairs' duties to include a new requirement for coordinating with the U.S. Department of Defense to assist returning servicemembers, adds a new subsection to the annual report requiring evaluation of veteran health literacy, and increases funding for the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program from $50,000 to $300,000. The bill also adds specific requirements for the adult day health care facilities plan and clarifies the training curriculum for the suicide prevention program.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new coordination requirements with federal agencies and additional reporting requirements focused on health literacy and veteran reentry services.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement for the Department of Veterans' Affairs to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Defense to directly engage returning servicemembers and connect them with support resources.

New reporting requirement to include an evaluation of veteran health literacy and recommendations to increase knowledge of available programs and services.

Expanded the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program requirements to include training on identifying mental health conditions and elevated suicide risk, not just elevated mental health risk.

New requirement for the adult day health care facilities plan to include specific elements such as veteran population data assessment, cost estimates, and infrastructure location analysis.

Added new subsection (8) to section 292.05 requiring coordination with the Department of Defense for veteran reentry services, including engagement with county and city veteran service officers.

FISCAL

Increased appropriation for the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program from $50,000 to $300,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

TIMELINE

Added a specific deadline of November 1, 2025 for submitting the adult day health care facilities plan to the Senate and House leadership.

S 116 Filed → S 116 c1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends multiple Florida statutes to expand the Department of Veterans' Affairs' duties, including requiring a study on veteran awareness of existing programs, establishing a statewide plan for adult day health care facilities for veterans, and enhancing the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program with specialized mental health training. The bill also authorizes a Gadsden Flag specialty license plate with proceeds benefiting veterans and provides specific appropriations for these initiatives.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Department of Veterans' Affairs' responsibilities to include new studies, planning requirements, and coordination with federal agencies, while adding specific funding and appropriations for these new initiatives.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to conduct an ongoing study including a survey evaluating veteran awareness of existing programs and services, with recommendations for increasing public awareness.

Mandates the department to develop a statewide plan to establish adult day health care facilities across Florida to serve veterans and their families, with specific reporting requirements to the Legislature by November 1, 2025.

Revises the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program to include specialized mental health training focused on identifying indicators of elevated mental health risk and suicide prevention.

Requires the department to ensure coordination with the United States Department of Defense to connect returning servicemembers with Florida resources and veteran service officers.

Authorizes a Gadsden Flag specialty license plate with up to 10% of proceeds used for promotion and administrative costs, with remaining funds benefiting veterans through the Florida Veterans Foundation.

Increases the maximum number of nominees for the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame from 5 to 20 per year.

FISCAL

Appropriates $50,000 for the veteran awareness survey and $300,000 for implementing the enhanced suicide prevention training program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 19, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 19, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

legislature

May 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 98, NAYS 0

lower

May 2, 2025

Introduced

Amendment 646315 Recede

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 112, NAYS 0

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment 646315 adopted

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/12/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 10 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 03/05/25, 9:30 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; YEAS 5 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security, 02/18/25, 1:45 pm, 301 Senate Building

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Rules

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors