Veterans in Florida to gain better access to care and stronger protections under new bills
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida’s continuous commitment to its soldiers and their families was highlighted last Friday as Governor Ron DeSantis signed three new pieces of legislation into law. With almost 1.5 million veterans living in Florida, these new rules are meant to make the state more widely recognized for its veteran services and support.
Governor DeSantis said that the signing happened on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which was a very important day for remembering the sacrifices made by service members.
“On D-Day and every day, Florida honors those who served our country in uniform,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I was proud to support three bills today to further our commitment to veterans. Florida remains the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”
House Bill 797 is one of the measures that deals with problems with long-term care that veterans and their families face. The bill makes it easier for veterans and their spouses to get into skilled care facilities by getting rid of red tape like Certificate of Needs requirements. The law also lets these places set aside beds just for veterans, as long as they meet certain conditions. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) will be in charge of these classifications. This will assist make admissions easier and make sure that care is good.
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Senate Bill 116 is all about veterans’ mental health and well-being. This measure builds on existing suicide prevention efforts by putting a lot of emphasis on crisis intervention, early detection, and continuous care for mental health issues. The law also says that there should be a statewide plan to build adult health care clinics that are specifically for veterans.
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Senate Bill 910, the third bill, is meant to safeguard veterans from unfair practices when they are trying to get benefits. The new rule makes it much harder for unaccredited benefits advisors to work. For example, they can’t get paid more than a certain amount, they have to pass background checks, and they can’t give kickbacks for referrals or make false promises. Penalties for violators have also been strengthened under Florida’s consumer protection laws.
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Governor DeSantis also talked about the Hope Florida “A Pathway for Patriots” program, which is run by First Lady Casey DeSantis. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs runs this program, which connects veterans with professional navigators. Since it started in late 2023, the program has helped more than 1,000 veterans break down barriers and become more financially independent.
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Veterans in Florida who need help should call the Hope Line at 833-GET-HOPE for advice or go to FloridaVets.org to find out what options are available. You can also call or contact State Veterans’ Service Officers to get answers to your issues within 24 hours, so help is always close by.
Florida continues to set a high standard for commemorating and helping its veterans, not only on special days but every day of the year, thanks to these new laws.
