Government and Politics
June 20, 2024
From: Florida Governor Ron DeSantisLAND O’ LAKES, FL - On June 20, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 725 and House Bill 1329 to support Florida’s veterans and their families through services for veterans shifting 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.”
Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 725 and House Bill 1329 into law.
House Bill 725 expands the 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, and currently is in the process of adding a tenth home that will give Florida the most state-operated facilities in the nation. State Veterans’ Nursing Homes provide valuable services for veterans and their families, including:
House Bill 1329 focuses programs and expands benefits for veterans here in the state of Florida. More specifically, this bill:
“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 and services available to veterans in the state of Florida, please visit FloridaVets.org. To contact a State Veterans’ Service Officer, call (727) 319-7440 and they will return your call within 24 hours. You may also contact them via email at [email protected].
For 24/7 counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 988, then press 1. You may also call the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFL Vet (1-844-693-5838) or dial 211.