HB 253 clarifies eligibility for Florida's Veterans Dental Care Grant Program, which provides dental care to veterans residing in the state. The bill specifies that veterans must have incomes at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for the program. Administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the program ensures access to oral health care for eligible veterans. This clarification takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Housing for Veterans; Creating the “Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program Act”; establishing the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in certain counties, subject to legislative appropriation; requiring a landlord to submit to the contracted program administrator required documentation within a specified time period to apply for funding; authorizing a landlord to apply for up to a specified dollar amount from the funds, etc.
Veterans Affairs; Revises admissions process for veterans treatment court programs; authorizes court, in consultation with multidisciplinary team, to determine eligibility for veterans treatment court programs; requires court to consider recommendation of state attorney when making eligibility determination; authorizes sentencing courts to divert defendants to veterans treatment court programs under certain circumstances; requires certain notice be provided to defendants; provides for disposition of probation or community control violations by program participants.
Veteran Benefit Payments to Minor Clients; Authorizing the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to access certain benefit payments for specified purposes; prohibiting the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities from supplanting certain financial assistance, etc.
Motor Vehicles; Requiring the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to establish and maintain a secure online license and registration portal for verifying, recording, and processing the seizure or confiscation of license plates; providing that a disabled veteran may retain a certain license plate designation upon reissuance, renewal, or transfer of the plate; prohibiting a person from manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or affixing to any registration license plate certain covers, films, or overlays that obscure or alter the registration license plate in a specified manner, etc.
Sales Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans; Creates exemption from specified taxes for sales of certain new motor vehicles made to specified veterans; requires DOR to provide certificate of exemption for specified purpose; authorizes DOR to adopt emergency rules.
HB 409 requires all Florida K-12 public school districts to observe Veterans' Day as an official school holiday, directly affecting school calendars and operations. The bill amends Florida Statutes to mandate that school boards designate Veterans' Day - listed in Section 110.117(1)(f) - as a holiday, replacing current discretionary observance. This policy change ensures consistent recognition of Veterans' Day across all public schools, with implementation required by July 1, 2026. The law does not alter the holiday's date or create new requirements beyond standard school holiday designation.
Transportation Facility Designations/Warrior Sacrifice Way; Provides honorary designation of certain transportation facility in specified county; directs DOT to erect suitable markers.
Department of Law Enforcement; Authorizing the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules relating to the Florida Medal of Valor and the Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal; specifying the circumstances under which an appointment or reappointment to the Medical Examiners Commission is considered in force; requiring the commission, rather than the Governor, to appoint district medical examiners for each medical examiner district; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to accept and process fingerprints taken of natural persons who are control persons of a licensee or are applicants for licensure, etc.
Housing for Veterans; Establishes Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in certain counties, subject to legislative appropriation; requires Florida Housing Finance Corporation, in consultation with other entities & persons, to oversee specified aspects of pilot program; provides responsibilities of corporation for pilot program; requires contracted program administrators to maintain certain functions of pilot program; authorizes certain landlords to apply to contracted program administrator to request funding from Vacancy Relief & Risk Mitigation Trust Fund; provides purpose of such trust fund; provides requirements to request funding from trust fund; requires certain case managers to assist contracted program administrator; requires contracted program administrator to maintain & provide certain documentation to corporation; requires entity responsible for certain functions to maintain any supporting documentation; authorizes corporation to rely on certifications, determinations, & documentation provided by specified entities; provides that funding for pilot program is awarded on first-come, first-served basis; authorizes corporation to suspend acceptance of applications; requires specified notice.
