HB 1327 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Veteran Benefit Payments to Minor Clients

Summary

Veteran Benefit Payments to Minor Clients ; Requires DCF to receive, deposit, & conserve certain benefit payments for certain minor clients; provides requirements for such funds; prohibits DCF from using such funds for certain purposes.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Mar 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 1327 Filed → H 1327 c1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the department's role from merely 'accessing' veteran benefits to actively 'receiving, depositing, and conserving' them. The scope of funds covered was narrowed to specifically include survivor benefits for minors in out-of-home care, and the requirement to disburse these funds was made mandatory upon the minor turning 18. Additionally, the act was updated to prohibit using these specific funds to reimburse the state for care costs.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to specifically target survivor benefit payments for minors in out-of-home care, rather than the broader postsecondary education and aftercare services mentioned in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the department's obligation from optional access to mandatory receipt, deposit, and conservation of funds.

Added a mandatory requirement to disburse all accumulated funds to the minor client upon reaching 18 years of age.

Added a prohibition against using the funds to reimburse the state for the cost of care.

FISCAL

Restricted the specific funds covered to survivor benefit payments for minors in out-of-home care.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed age thresholds related to school enrollment (23 years) and replaced them with a single threshold of 18 years of age.

Floor votes · House Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

21–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 25

Feb 24, 2026

D Democratic7

6 Yea 1

85% Yea

R Republican18

15 Yea 3

83% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (21-0-4)

house

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health Care Budget Subcommittee

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred to Human Services Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors