Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 402
       
       
        
       By Senator Wright
       
       
       
       
       
       8-00553-25                                             2025402__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to unlawful use of uniforms, medals,
    3         or insignia; amending s. 817.312, F.S.; prohibiting
    4         persons from wearing the uniform of or any medal or
    5         insignia authorized for use by members or veterans of
    6         the Space Force; making technical changes; providing
    7         criminal penalties; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Section 817.312, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   12  read:
   13         817.312 Unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia.—
   14         (1)(a) A person may not:
   15         1. Misrepresent himself or herself as a member or veteran
   16  of the armed forces as defined in s. 250.01 United States Air
   17  Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United
   18  States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Space
   19  Force, or the National Guard; or
   20         2. Wear the uniform of or any medal or insignia authorized
   21  for use by members or veterans of the armed forces as defined in
   22  s. 250.01 United States Air Force, United States Army, United
   23  States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States
   24  Navy, or the National Guard which he or she is not authorized to
   25  wear,
   26  
   27  while soliciting for charitable contributions or for the purpose
   28  of material gain, including, but not limited to, obtaining
   29  employment or public office resulting in receiving compensation.
   30         (b) This subsection does not prohibit persons in the
   31  theatrical profession from wearing such uniforms, medals, or
   32  insignia while actually engaged in such profession.
   33         (2) A person who violates subsection (1) commits a felony
   34  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
   35  775.083, or s. 775.084.
   36         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2025.