Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280
By the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and
Domestic Security; and Senator Collins
583-02824A-25 20251280c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to military affairs; amending s.
3 15.0465, F.S.; redesignating the official state
4 flagship as the S.S. American Victory; amending s.
5 295.124, F.S.; updating a reference to federal law
6 relating to the designation of the Department of
7 Veterans’ Affairs as the state approving agency for
8 veterans’ education and training; amending s. 295.21,
9 F.S.; revising the membership of the board of
10 directors of Florida is for Veterans, Inc.; conforming
11 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
12 295.22, F.S.; renaming the Veterans Employment and
13 Training Services Program administered by Florida Is
14 For Veterans, Inc., as the Veterans Florida
15 Opportunity Program; providing that grant
16 reimbursements are limited to a specified amount per
17 eligible trainee per fiscal year; deleting a provision
18 that allowed for reimbursement of only permanent full
19 time employees; providing that training costs for a
20 trainee must be equal to or greater than a specified
21 amount; revising requirements for a grant agreement
22 between the corporation and a business requesting
23 funds; authorizing the use of grant funds as
24 educational stipends for specified individuals while
25 training at locations of the University of Florida
26 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; requiring
27 Florida is for Veterans, Inc., and the university to
28 enter into a grant agreement; requiring the
29 corporation to determine the amount and structure of
30 any educational stipend; specifying that such stipends
31 be used only for specified training; providing an
32 appropriation; creating s. 295.25, F.S.; prohibiting
33 the Department of State from charging veterans who
34 reside in this state fees for the filing of specified
35 documents; limiting a veteran’s use of the exemption;
36 amending s. 320.084, F.S.; requiring that a free
37 disabled veteran motor vehicle license plate be issued
38 by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
39 for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by
40 certain disabled veterans; deleting the requirement
41 that such plates be issued with the identifying letter
42 designation of “DV”; authorizing the issuance of a
43 military license plate or specialty license plate with
44 a certain embossing; providing that certain
45 protections and rights do apply to certain military or
46 specialty license plates; amending s. 322.21, F.S.;
47 providing an exemption from driver license fees to
48 members of the Florida National Guard and their
49 spouses; amending s. 394.47891, F.S.; providing that
50 the chief judge of a judicial circuit has the
51 exclusive authority to determine whether veterans may
52 participate in the veterans treatment court of that
53 circuit; providing an effective date.
54
55 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
56
57 Section 1. Section 15.0465, Florida Statutes, is amended to
58 read:
59 15.0465 Official state flagship.—The S.S. American Victory,
60 a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 schooner Western
61 Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship
62 class, built in Key West and first launched in 1939, is
63 designated the official state flagship.
64 Section 2. Section 295.124, Florida Statutes, is amended to
65 read:
66 295.124 State approving agency for veterans’ education and
67 training.—The Department of Veterans’ Affairs shall act as the
68 state approving agency for purposes of veterans’ education and
69 training, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. s. 3671 38 U.S.C. s. 1771
70 and the applicable annual contract between the state and the
71 Federal Government.
72 Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraph (a)
73 of subsection (4), and paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of
74 section 295.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
75 295.21 Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.—
76 (3) DUTIES.—The corporation shall:
77 (d) Implement the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment
78 and Training Services Program established by s. 295.22.
79 (4) GOVERNANCE.—
80 (a) The corporation shall be governed by a 12-member an 11
81 member board of directors. The Governor, the President of the
82 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
83 each appoint three voting members to the board. The appointments
84 made by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House
85 of Representatives may not be from the body over which he or she
86 presides. In making appointments, the Governor, the President of
87 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
88 shall must consider representation by active or retired military
89 personnel and their spouses, representing a range of ages and
90 persons with expertise in business, education, marketing, and
91 information management. Additionally, the President of the
92 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
93 each appoint one member from the body over which he or she
94 presides to serve on the board as ex officio, nonvoting members,
95 and the Governor shall appoint one member who is a secretary, or
96 his or her designee, with experience in economic or workforce
97 development from an executive agency, as an ex officio,
98 nonvoting member.
99 (8) ANNUAL REPORT.—The corporation shall submit an annual
100 progress report and work plan by December 1 to the Governor, the
101 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
102 Representatives. The report must include:
103 (c) Status of the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment
104 and Training Services Program administered under s. 295.22.
105 Section 4. Section 295.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to
106 read:
107 295.22 Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training
108 Services Program.—
109 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds
110 that the state has a compelling interest in ensuring that each
111 veteran or his or her spouse who is a resident of this state
112 finds employment that meets his or her professional goals and
113 receives the training or education necessary to meet those
114 goals. The Legislature also finds that connecting dedicated,
115 well-trained veterans with businesses that need a dedicated,
116 well-trained workforce is of paramount importance. The
117 Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not
118 currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida
119 employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional
120 workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the
121 demands of the marketplace. It is the intent of the Legislature
122 that the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training
123 Services Program coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and
124 their spouses and the business community to enhance the economy
125 of this state.
126 (2) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the
127 term:
128 (a) “Secondary industry business” is a business that the
129 state has an additional interest in supporting and for which
130 veterans and their spouses may have directly transferable
131 skills. Such businesses are in the fields of health care,
132 agriculture, commercial construction, education, law
133 enforcement, and public service.
134 (b) “Servicemember” means any person serving as a member of
135 the United States Armed Forces on active duty or state active
136 duty and all members of the Florida National Guard and United
137 States Reserve Forces.
138 (c) “Target industry business” is a business as defined in
139 s. 288.005.
140 (d) “Target market” means servicemembers of the United
141 States Armed Forces who have 24 months or less until discharge,
142 veterans with 36 months or less since discharge, and members of
143 the Florida National Guard or reserves. The term includes
144 spouses of such individuals, and surviving spouses of such
145 individuals who have not remarried.
146 (3) CREATION.—The Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment
147 and Training Services Program is created within the Department
148 of Veterans’ Affairs to assist in connecting servicemembers,
149 veterans, or their spouses who are in the target market with
150 businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well-trained workers and
151 with opportunities for entrepreneurship education, training, and
152 resources. The purpose of the program is to meet the workforce
153 demands of businesses in this state by facilitating access to
154 training and education in high-demand fields for such
155 individuals and to inspire the growth and development of
156 veteran-owned small businesses.
157 (4) ADMINISTRATION.—Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall
158 administer the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and
159 Training Services Program and perform all of the following
160 functions:
161 (a) Conduct marketing and recruiting efforts directed at
162 individuals within the target market who reside in or have an
163 interest in relocating to this state and who are seeking
164 employment. Marketing must include information related to how
165 military experience can be valuable to a target industry or
166 secondary industry business. Such efforts may include attending
167 job fairs and events; hosting events for servicemembers,
168 veterans, and their spouses or the business community; and using
169 digital and social media and direct mail campaigns. The
170 corporation shall also include such marketing as part of its
171 main marketing campaign.
172 (b) Assist individuals in the target market who reside in
173 or relocate to this state and who are seeking employment with
174 target industry or secondary industry businesses. The
175 corporation shall offer skills assessments to such individuals
176 and assist them in establishing employment goals and applying
177 for and achieving gainful employment.
178 1. Assessment may include skill match information, skill
179 gap analysis, résumé creation, translation of military skills
180 into civilian workforce skills, and translation of military
181 achievements and experience into generally understood civilian
182 workforce skills.
183 2. Assistance may include providing the servicemember,
184 veteran, or his or her spouse with information on current
185 workforce demand by industry or geographic region, creating
186 employment goals, and aiding or teaching general knowledge
187 related to completing applications.
188 3. Assessment and assistance may be in person or by
189 electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most
190 efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses.
191 (c) Assist Florida target industry and secondary industry
192 businesses in recruiting and hiring individuals in the target
193 market. The corporation shall provide services to Florida
194 businesses to meet their hiring needs by connecting businesses
195 with suitable applicants for employment. Suitable applicants
196 include veterans or veterans’ spouses who have appropriate job
197 skills or may need additional training to meet the specific
198 needs of a business. The corporation shall also provide
199 information about the state and federal benefits of hiring
200 veterans.
201 (d) Create a grant program to provide funding to assist
202 individuals in the target market in meeting the workforce-skill
203 needs of target industry and secondary industry businesses
204 seeking to hire, promote, or generally improve specialized
205 skills of veterans, establish criteria for approval of requests
206 for funding, and maximize the use of funding for this program.
207 Grant funds may be used only in the absence of available
208 veteran-specific federally funded programs. Grants may fund
209 specialized training specific to a particular business.
210 1. The program may prioritize grant funds to be used to
211 provide a certificate, a license, or nondegree training from the
212 Master Credentials List pursuant to s. 445.004(4)(h); any
213 federally created certifications or licenses; and any skills
214 based industry certifications or licenses deemed relevant or
215 necessary by the corporation. Funds may be allocated only upon a
216 review that includes, but is not limited to, documentation of
217 accreditation and licensure.
218 2. Grant reimbursements Costs and expenditures are limited
219 to $5,000 $8,000 per eligible trainee per fiscal year. Qualified
220 businesses must cover the entire cost for all of the training
221 provided before receiving reimbursement from the corporation
222 equal to 50 percent of the cost to train a veteran who is a
223 permanent, full-time employee. Training costs for a trainee in a
224 fiscal year must be equal to or greater than $5,000. Eligible
225 costs and expenditures include, but are not limited to:
226 a. Tuition and fees.
227 b. Books and classroom materials.
228 c. Rental fees for facilities.
229 3. Before funds are allocated for a request pursuant to
230 this section, the corporation shall prepare a grant agreement
231 between the business requesting funds and the corporation. Such
232 agreement must include, but need not be limited to:
233 a. Identification of the personnel necessary to conduct the
234 instructional program, instructional program description, and
235 any vendors used to conduct the instructional program.
236 b. Identification of the estimated duration of the
237 instructional program.
238 c. Identification of all direct, training-related costs.
239 d. Identification of special program requirements that are
240 not otherwise addressed in the agreement.
241 e. Permission to access aggregate information specific to
242 the wages and performance of participants upon the completion of
243 instruction for evaluation purposes. The agreement must specify
244 that any evaluation published subsequent to the instruction may
245 not identify the employer or any individual participant.
246 4. A business may receive a grant under any state program
247 and a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee.
248 5. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., grant funds may be used
249 as educational stipends for individuals in the target market
250 while training at any location of the University of Florida
251 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences within this state.
252 The corporation and the University of Florida shall enter into
253 an agreement before any grant funds are expended, and the
254 corporation shall determine the amount and structure of any
255 educational stipend. Such stipend may be used only for such
256 training for a period of no less than 4 months and no more than
257 6 months, in the absence of veteran-specific federally funded
258 programs.
259 (e) Contract with one or more entities to administer an
260 entrepreneur initiative program for individuals in the target
261 market in this state which connects business leaders in the
262 state with such individuals seeking to become entrepreneurs.
263 1. The corporation shall award each contract in accordance
264 with the competitive bidding requirements in s. 287.057 to one
265 or more public or private entities that:
266 a. Demonstrate the ability to implement the program and the
267 commitment of resources, including financial resources, to such
268 programs.
269 b. Have a demonstrated experience working with veteran
270 entrepreneurs.
271 c. As determined by the corporation, have been recognized
272 for their performance in assisting entrepreneurs to launch
273 successful businesses in this state.
274 2. Each contract must include performance metrics,
275 including a focus on employment and business creation. The
276 entity may also work with a university or college offering
277 related programs to refer individuals in the target market or to
278 provide services. The entrepreneur initiative program may
279 include activities and assistance such as peer-to-peer learning
280 sessions, mentoring, technical assistance, business roundtables,
281 networking opportunities, support of student organizations,
282 speaker series, or other tools within a virtual environment.
283 (f) Administer a SkillBridge initiative for target industry
284 and secondary industry businesses in this state and for eligible
285 individuals in the target market who reside in, or who wish to
286 reside in, this state. In administering the initiative, the
287 corporation shall:
288 1. Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification
289 for the SkillBridge initiative or any other similar workforce
290 training and transition programs established by the United
291 States Department of Defense;
292 2. Educate businesses, business associations, and eligible
293 individuals in the target market on the SkillBridge initiative
294 and its benefits, and educate military command and personnel
295 within the state on the opportunities available to eligible
296 individuals in the target market;
297 3. Assist businesses in obtaining approval for skilled
298 workforce training curricula under the SkillBridge initiative,
299 including, but not limited to, apprenticeships, internships, or
300 fellowships; and
301 4. Match eligible individuals in the target market with
302 training opportunities offered by the corporation or
303 participating businesses, with the intent of having them achieve
304 gainful employment in this state upon completion of their
305 SkillBridge training.
306 (5) COLLABORATION.—
307 (a) The corporation may assist state agencies and entities
308 with recruiting veteran talent into their workforces.
309 (b) The corporation is encouraged to, and may collaborate
310 with state agencies and other entities in efforts to, maximize
311 access to and provide information on one website that, if
312 possible, includes hyperlinks to the websites of and contact
313 information, if available, for state agencies and other entities
314 that maintain benefits, services, training, education, and other
315 resources that are available to veterans and their spouses.
316 (c) The corporation may collaborate with other state
317 agencies and entities for outreach, information exchange,
318 marketing, and referrals regarding programs and initiatives that
319 include, but are not limited to, the program created by this
320 section and those within any of the following:
321 1. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs:
322 a. Access to benefits and assistance programs.
323 b. Hope Navigators Program.
324 2. The Department of Commerce:
325 a. The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program and local veteran
326 employment representatives.
327 b. CareerSource Florida, Inc., and local workforce boards
328 employment and recruitment services.
329 c. The Quick-Response Training Program.
330 d. Efforts of the Florida Defense Support Task Force
331 created under s. 288.987, the Florida Small Business Development
332 Center Network, and the direct support organization established
333 in s. 288.012(6).
334 3. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation,
335 reciprocity and the availability of certain license and fee
336 waivers.
337 4. The Department of Education:
338 a. CAPE industry certifications under s. 1008.44.
339 b. Information related to earning postsecondary credit at
340 public postsecondary educational institutions for college-level
341 training and education acquired in the military under s.
342 1004.096.
343 5. The Department of Health:
344 a. The Office of Veteran Licensure Services.
345 b. The Florida Veterans Application for Licensure Online
346 Response expedited licensing.
347 6. The Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help.
348 Section 5. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $2.5
349 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is
350 appropriated to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the
351 purposes of funding the Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.,
352 implementation and administration of the programs described in
353 ss. 295.21(3)(d), 295.21(3)(f), and 295.22, Florida Statutes.
354 Section 6. Section 295.25, Florida Statutes, is created to
355 read:
356 295.25 Veterans exempt from certain filing fees.—The
357 Department of State may not charge veterans who reside in this
358 state the applicable fees for filing articles of organization,
359 articles of incorporation, a certificate of limited partnership,
360 or a partnership registration statement, or for the designation
361 of a registered agent, if applicable, as provided in s.
362 605.0213, s. 607.0122, s. 617.0122, s. 620.1109, or s.
363 620.81055. A veteran may apply for this exemption only once.
364 Section 7. Subsections (1) and (3), paragraph (a) of
365 subsection (4), and subsection (6) of section 320.084, Florida
366 Statutes, are amended to read:
367 320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain
368 disabled veterans.—
369 (1) One free disabled veteran “DV” motor vehicle license
370 number plate must shall be issued by the department for use on
371 any motor vehicle owned or leased by any disabled veteran who
372 has been a resident of this state continuously for the preceding
373 5 years or has established a domicile in this state as provided
374 by s. 222.17(1), (2), or (3), and who has been honorably
375 discharged from the United States Armed Forces, upon
376 application, accompanied by proof that:
377 (a) A vehicle was initially acquired through financial
378 assistance by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
379 or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an
380 automobile;
381 (b) The applicant has been determined by the United States
382 Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
383 service-connected 100-percent disability rating for
384 compensation; or
385 (c) The applicant has been determined to have a service
386 connected disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of
387 disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States
388 Armed Services.
389 (3) The department shall, as it deems necessary, require
390 each person to whom a motor vehicle license plate has been
391 issued pursuant to subsection (1) to apply to the department for
392 reissuance of his or her registration license plate. Upon
393 receipt of the application and proof of the applicant’s
394 continued eligibility, the department shall issue a new
395 permanent disabled veteran “DV” numerical motor vehicle license
396 plate which must shall be of the colors red, white, and blue
397 similar to the colors of the United States flag. The operation
398 of a motor vehicle displaying a disabled veteran “DV” license
399 plate from a previous issue period or a noncurrent validation
400 sticker after the date specified by the department shall subject
401 the owner if he or she is present, otherwise the operator, to
402 the penalty provided in s. 318.18(2). Such permanent license
403 plate must shall be removed upon sale of the vehicle, but may be
404 transferred to another vehicle owned by such veteran in the
405 manner prescribed by law. The license number of each plate
406 issued under this section shall be identified by the letter
407 designation “DV.” Upon request of any such veteran, the
408 department is authorized to issue a designation plate containing
409 only the letters “DV,” to be displayed on the front of the
410 vehicle.
411 (4)(a) With the issuance of each new permanent disabled
412 veteran “DV” numerical motor vehicle license plate, the
413 department shall initially issue, without cost to the applicant,
414 a validation sticker reflecting the owner’s birth month and a
415 serially numbered validation sticker reflecting the year of
416 expiration. The initial sticker reflecting the year of
417 expiration may not exceed 27 months.
418 (6)(a) A disabled veteran who meets the requirements of
419 subsection (1) may be issued, in lieu of the disabled veteran
420 “DV” license plate, a military license plate for which he or she
421 is eligible or a specialty license plate embossed with the
422 initials “DV” in the top left-hand corner. A disabled veteran
423 electing a military license plate or specialty license plate
424 under this subsection must pay all applicable fees related to
425 such license plate, except for fees otherwise waived under
426 subsections (1) and (4).
427 (b) A military license plate or specialty license plate
428 elected under this subsection:
429 1. Does not provide the protections or rights afforded by
430 ss. 316.1955, 316.1964, 320.0848, 526.141, and 553.5041.
431 2. Is not eligible for the international symbol of
432 accessibility as described in s. 320.0842.
433 Section 8. Subsection (7) of section 322.21, Florida
434 Statutes, is amended to read:
435 322.21 License fees; procedure for handling and collecting
436 fees.—
437 (7)(a) Any veteran honorably discharged from the Armed
438 Forces who has been issued a valid identification card by the
439 Department of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17,
440 has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans
441 Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100-percent total and
442 permanent service-connected disability rating for compensation,
443 or has been determined to have a service-connected total and
444 permanent disability rating of 100 percent, is in receipt of
445 disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States
446 Armed Services, and who is qualified to obtain a driver license
447 under this chapter is exempt from all fees required by this
448 section.
449 (b) A member of the Florida National Guard who has been
450 issued a valid identification card by the Department of Military
451 Affairs and his or her spouse are exempt from all fees required
452 by this section.
453 Section 9. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
454 394.47891, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
455 394.47891 Veterans treatment court programs.—
456 (3) AUTHORIZATION.—
457 (d) The chief judge and state attorney of the judicial
458 circuit that creates and administers a veterans treatment court
459 program has have the exclusive authority to determine whether
460 veterans who have been dishonorably discharged may participate
461 in the veterans treatment court program of within the circuit.
462 Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.