Bills signed by the governor in Fort Walton Beach to support military families

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis signed six bills in Fort Walton Beach on Thursday that he said support veterans, military members, and their families in finding employment and educational opportunities in Florida.

“Providing military families with the resources they need to receive a high-quality education and find good jobs is the best way that we as a state can show our appreciation for the sacrifices that they make,” said DeSantis.

The pieces of legislation build on funding provided in the state budget to support Florida’s military members and their families, according to DeSantis.

The six bills signed by DeSantis will support educational opportunities for veterans and children of active-duty military. Additionally, the bills will expand access to employment opportunities by removing barriers to licensure and postsecondary education requirements, DeSantis said.

According to the governor’s office, here are the bills and their descriptions:

• House Bill (HB) 45 provides educational opportunities for disabled veterans by providing additional assistance to achieve a 100 percent award for tuition and fees.

• Senate Bill (SB) 430 reenacts the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which ensures a smooth transition for children of active-duty military families by enabling seamless school placement, enrollment, records transfers, and verification of graduation requirements.

• SB 514 allows state agencies to substitute work experience, including military experience, for postsecondary education to allow veterans to use on-the-job experience to apply for civilian jobs.

• SB 896 will help veterans access jobs in education by allowing their military service to count toward the requirement for a temporary educator certificate under the mentorship of a certified teacher.

• SB 562 requires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to expedite license applications of active-duty military spouses.

• SB 438 updates Florida’s definition of Uniformed Service to include the United States Space Force and updates military base names.

DeSantis also announced that CareerSource Florida and state workforce agencies will dedicate $20 million in targeted workforce training supports for Florida’s veterans. This funding will focus on high-demand industries, including aviation, aerospace, and defense.