Florida 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 1280 — Military Affairs

Last action — Died in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 116 (Ch. 2025-146), CS/CS/CS/SB 1662 (Ch. 2025-155)

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Military Affairs; Redesignating the official state flagship as the S.S. American Victory; updating a reference to federal law relating to the designation of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as the state approving agency for veterans’ education and training; renaming the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program administered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., as the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program; requiring Florida is for Veterans, Inc., and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to enter into a grant agreement, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,500,000

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

511 added · 448 removed

511 line(s) added, 448 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 By Senator Collins 14-01103B-25 20251280__ A bill to be entitled An act relating to veterans;
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 A bill to be entitled An act relating to military affairs;
15.0465, F.S.;
redesignating the official state flagship as the S.S.
American Victory;
amending s.
deleting a provision that allowed for reimbursement of only permanent full-time employees;
deleting a provision that allowed for reimbursement of only permanent full- time employees;
requiring the corporation to determine the amount and structure of any educational stipend;
requiring the corporation to determine the amount and structure of Page 1 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 any educational stipend;
Page 1 of 14 CODING:
prohibiting the Department of State from charging veterans who reside in this state fees for the filing of specified documents;
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ prohibiting the Department of State from charging veterans who reside in this state fees for the filing of specified documents;
320.084, F.S.;
requiring that a free disabled veteran motor vehicle license plate be issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by certain disabled veterans;
deleting the requirement that such plates be issued with the identifying letter designation of “DV”;
authorizing the issuance of a military license plate or specialty license plate with a certain embossing;
providing that certain protections and rights do apply to certain military or specialty license plates;
amending s.
379.354, F.S.;
providing a reduced fee for persons who are active or retired members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Coast Guard Reserve for resident lifetime hunting licenses and resident lifetime sportsman’s licenses;
amending s.
Section 15.0465, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
Page 2 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 15.0465 Official state flagship.—The S.S.
American Victory, a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 schooner Western Union, a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship class, built in Key West and first launched in 1939, is designated the official state flagship.
Section 2.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraph (a) Page 2 of 14 CODING:
Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (4), and paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 295.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ of subsection (4), and paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 295.21, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
In making appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall must consider representation by active or retired military personnel and their spouses, representing a range of ages and persons with expertise in business, education, marketing, and information management.
In making appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Page 3 of 16 CODING:
Additionally, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member from the body over which he or she presides to serve on the board as ex officio, nonvoting members, and the Governor shall appoint one member who is a secretary, or his or her designee, with experience in economic or workforce development from an executive agency, as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
(8) ANNUAL REPORT.—The corporation shall submit an annual progress report and work plan by December 1 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Page 3 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ Representatives.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 shall must consider representation by active or retired military personnel and their spouses, representing a range of ages and persons with expertise in business, education, marketing, and information management.
Show all 163 changed rows (123 more)
Previous
Latest
Additionally, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one member from the body over which he or she presides to serve on the board as ex officio, nonvoting members, and the Governor shall appoint one member who is a secretary, or his or her designee, with experience in economic or workforce development from an executive agency, as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
(8) ANNUAL REPORT.—The corporation shall submit an annual progress report and work plan by December 1 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Section 3.
Section 4.
The Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the demands of the marketplace.
The Page 4 of 16 CODING:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and their spouses and the business community to enhance the economy of this state.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Secondary industry business” is a business that the state has an additional interest in supporting and for which veterans and their spouses may have directly transferable Page 4 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ skills.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 Legislature recognizes that veterans or their spouses may not currently have the skills to meet the workforce needs of Florida employers and may require assistance in obtaining additional workforce training or in transitioning their skills to meet the demands of the marketplace.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program coordinate and meet the needs of veterans and their spouses and the business community to enhance the economy of this state.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Secondary industry business” is a business that the state has an additional interest in supporting and for which veterans and their spouses may have directly transferable skills.
(3) CREATION.—The Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program is created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to assist in connecting servicemembers, veterans, or their spouses who are in the target market with businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well-trained workers and with opportunities for entrepreneurship education, training, and resources.
Page 5 of 16 CODING:
The purpose of the program is to meet the workforce demands of businesses in this state by facilitating access to training and education in high-demand fields for such individuals and to inspire the growth and development of veteran-owned small businesses.
(4) ADMINISTRATION.—Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall administer the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program and perform all of the following Page 5 of 14 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ functions:
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 (3) CREATION.—The Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program is created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to assist in connecting servicemembers, veterans, or their spouses who are in the target market with businesses seeking to hire dedicated, well-trained workers and with opportunities for entrepreneurship education, training, and resources.
The purpose of the program is to meet the workforce demands of businesses in this state by facilitating access to training and education in high-demand fields for such individuals and to inspire the growth and development of veteran-owned small businesses.
(4) ADMINISTRATION.—Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., shall administer the Veterans Florida Opportunity Employment and Training Services Program and perform all of the following functions:
The corporation shall offer skills assessments to such individuals and assist them in establishing employment goals and applying for and achieving gainful employment.
The Page 6 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 corporation shall offer skills assessments to such individuals and assist them in establishing employment goals and applying for and achieving gainful employment.
Assessment and assistance may be in person or by Page 6 of 14 CODING:
Assessment and assistance may be in person or by electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ electronic means, as determined by the corporation to be most efficient and best meet the needs of veterans or their spouses.
(d) Create a grant program to provide funding to assist individuals in the target market in meeting the workforce-skill needs of target industry and secondary industry businesses seeking to hire, promote, or generally improve specialized skills of veterans, establish criteria for approval of requests for funding, and maximize the use of funding for this program.
(d) Create a grant program to provide funding to assist individuals in the target market in meeting the workforce-skill needs of target industry and secondary industry businesses Page 7 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 seeking to hire, promote, or generally improve specialized skills of veterans, establish criteria for approval of requests for funding, and maximize the use of funding for this program.
Page 7 of 14 CODING:
2.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ 2.
a.
Page 8 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 a.
A business may receive a grant under any state program Page 8 of 14 CODING:
A business may receive a grant under any state program and a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ and a grant under this section for the same veteran trainee.
(e) Contract with one or more entities to administer an entrepreneur initiative program for individuals in the target market in this state which connects business leaders in the state with such individuals seeking to become entrepreneurs.
(e) Contract with one or more entities to administer an entrepreneur initiative program for individuals in the target market in this state which connects business leaders in the Page 9 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 state with such individuals seeking to become entrepreneurs.
The Page 9 of 14 CODING:
The entity may also work with a university or college offering related programs to refer individuals in the target market or to provide services.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ entity may also work with a university or college offering related programs to refer individuals in the target market or to provide services.
Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification for the SkillBridge initiative or any other similar workforce training and transition programs established by the United States Department of Defense;
Establish and maintain, as applicable, its certification for the SkillBridge initiative or any other similar workforce training and transition programs established by the United Page 10 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 States Department of Defense;
Match eligible individuals in the target market with training opportunities offered by the corporation or participating businesses, with the intent of having them achieve gainful employment in this state upon completion of their Page 10 of 14 CODING:
Match eligible individuals in the target market with training opportunities offered by the corporation or participating businesses, with the intent of having them achieve gainful employment in this state upon completion of their SkillBridge training.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ SkillBridge training.
(c) The corporation may collaborate with other state agencies and entities for outreach, information exchange, marketing, and referrals regarding programs and initiatives that include, but are not limited to, the program created by this section and those within any of the following:
(c) The corporation may collaborate with other state agencies and entities for outreach, information exchange, marketing, and referrals regarding programs and initiatives that include, but are not limited to, the program created by this Page 11 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 section and those within any of the following:
Page 11 of 14 CODING:
3.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ 3.
Section 4.
For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $2.5 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the purposes of funding the Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., implementation and administration of the programs described in ss.
295.21(3)(d), 295.21(3)(f), and 295.22, Florida Statutes.
For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $2.5 Page 12 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the purposes of funding the Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., implementation and administration of the programs described in ss.
295.21(3)(d), 295.21(3)(f), and 295.22, Florida Statutes.
Section 6.
Page 12 of 14 CODING:
620.81055.
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ 620.81055.
Section 6.
Subsection (7) of section 322.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
322.21 License fees;
procedure for handling and collecting fees.— (7)(a) Any veteran honorably discharged from the Armed Forces who has been issued a valid identification card by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with s.
295.17, has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100-percent total and permanent service-connected disability rating for compensation, or has been determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent, is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, and who is qualified to obtain a driver license under this chapter is exempt from all fees required by this section.
(b) A member of the Florida National Guard who has been issued a valid identification card by the Department of Military Affairs and his or her spouse are exempt from all fees required by this section.
Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) and paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section 379.354, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
Subsections (1) and (3), paragraph (a) of subsection (4), and subsection (6) of section 320.084, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
379.354 Recreational licenses, permits, and authorization numbers;
320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain disabled veterans.— (1) One free disabled veteran “DV” motor vehicle license number plate must shall be issued by the department for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by any disabled veteran who has been a resident of this state continuously for the preceding 5 years or has established a domicile in this state as provided by s.
fees established.— (11) RESIDENT LIFETIME HUNTING LICENSES.— (a) Lifetime hunting licenses are available to residents only, as follows, for:
222.17(1), (2), or (3), and who has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces, upon application, accompanied by proof that:
Page 13 of 14 CODING:
(a) A vehicle was initially acquired through financial Page 13 of 16 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1280 14-01103B-25 20251280__ 1.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 assistance by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an automobile;
Persons 4 years of age or younger, for a fee of $200.
(b) The applicant has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a service-connected 100-percent disability rating for compensation;
2.
or (c) The applicant has been determined to have a service- connected disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services.
Persons 5 years of age or older, but under 13 years of age, for a fee of $350.
(3) The department shall, as it deems necessary, require each person to whom a motor vehicle license plate has been issued pursuant to subsection (1) to apply to the department for reissuance of his or her registration license plate.
3.
Upon receipt of the application and proof of the applicant’s continued eligibility, the department shall issue a new permanent disabled veteran “DV” numerical motor vehicle license plate which must shall be of the colors red, white, and blue similar to the colors of the United States flag.
Persons 13 years of age or older, for a fee of $500.
The operation of a motor vehicle displaying a disabled veteran “DV” license plate from a previous issue period or a noncurrent validation sticker after the date specified by the department shall subject the owner if he or she is present, otherwise the operator, to the penalty provided in s.
4.
318.18(2).
Persons who are active or retired members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Coast Guard Reserve, for a fee of $250.
Such permanent license plate must shall be removed upon sale of the vehicle, but may be transferred to another vehicle owned by such veteran in the manner prescribed by law.
(12) RESIDENT LIFETIME SPORTSMAN’S LICENSES.— (a) Lifetime sportsman’s licenses are available to residents only, as follows, for:
The license number of each plate issued under this section shall be identified by the letter Page 14 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 designation “DV.” Upon request of any such veteran, the department is authorized to issue a designation plate containing only the letters “DV,” to be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
(4)(a) With the issuance of each new permanent disabled veteran “DV” numerical motor vehicle license plate, the department shall initially issue, without cost to the applicant, a validation sticker reflecting the owner’s birth month and a serially numbered validation sticker reflecting the year of expiration.
The initial sticker reflecting the year of expiration may not exceed 27 months.
(6)(a) A disabled veteran who meets the requirements of subsection (1) may be issued, in lieu of the disabled veteran “DV” license plate, a military license plate for which he or she is eligible or a specialty license plate embossed with the initials “DV” in the top left-hand corner.
A disabled veteran electing a military license plate or specialty license plate under this subsection must pay all applicable fees related to such license plate, except for fees otherwise waived under subsections (1) and (4).
(b) A military license plate or specialty license plate elected under this subsection:
Persons 4 years of age or younger, for a fee of $400.
Does not provide the protections or rights afforded by ss.
316.1955, 316.1964, 320.0848, 526.141, and 553.5041.
Persons 5 years of age or older, but under 13 years of age, for a fee of $700.
Is not eligible for the international symbol of accessibility as described in s.
3.
320.0842.
Persons 13 years of age or older, for a fee of $1,000.
4.
Persons who are active or retired members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Coast Guard Reserve, for a fee of $400.
Subsection (7) of section 322.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
322.21 License fees;
procedure for handling and collecting Page 15 of 16 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1280 583-02824A-25 20251280c1 fees.— (7)(a) Any veteran honorably discharged from the Armed Forces who has been issued a valid identification card by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with s.
295.17, has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100-percent total and permanent service-connected disability rating for compensation, or has been determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent, is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, and who is qualified to obtain a driver license under this chapter is exempt from all fees required by this section.
(b) A member of the Florida National Guard who has been issued a valid identification card by the Department of Military Affairs and his or her spouse are exempt from all fees required by this section.
Section 9.
Section 9.
Section 10.
Page 14 of 14 CODING:
Page 16 of 16 CODING:
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Died in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 116 (Ch. 2025-146), CS/CS/CS/SB 1662 (Ch. 2025-155)

  2. Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration

  3. CS by Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security read 1st time

  4. Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

  5. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  6. CS by Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; YEAS 6 NAYS 0

  7. On Committee agenda-- Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security, 03/25/25, 1:30 pm, 301 Senate Building

  8. Introduced

  9. Referred to Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Appropriations

  10. Filed

Sponsors

  • Collins · Primary
  • Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 162 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

  • Collins
  • Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (162)

162 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 162 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

veterans education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1280 do?
Military Affairs; Redesignating the official state flagship as the S.S. American Victory; updating a reference to federal law relating to the designation of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as the state approving agency for veterans’ education and training; renaming the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program administered by Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., as the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program; requiring Florida is for Veterans, Inc., and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to enter into a grant agreement, etc. APPROPRIATION: $2,500,000
Who sponsors SB 1280?
SB 1280 is sponsored by Collins and Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security.
What is the current status of SB 1280?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1280?
Track SB 1280 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 1280

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 1280

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →