[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6109169,"mediaKeyId","2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c","parentId",2763697,"title","Committee backs public-records exemption for Veterans Florida Opportunity Program","audioSeconds",112,"startMs",1526000,"endMs",1638000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c&start=1526&end=1638","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c/thumbnail_1526000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109169/Florida/Committee-backs-public-records-exemption-for-Veterans-Florida-Opportunity-Program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109169-175fed21595a6384114598e7b5fa45eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770693951&Signature=XZThoWnZCV3G48jgjQ1cTGsMJiwtv9R967iMeqvwHEIEznJviln1pLrWgSKPebWrPQJV9pNGf2-KEWpWOHkkuuu1k5pT8LyX5KL1XXcVjx17OD3HuMshO-6RbxBvwgE4cUGlgOSSExITDnxyeqAKdV7gog28R3~SyUQc4sIljkNFX17p7rRsMbIcrZOsAh90CaUcI~ixeUGXmDOgvAHxERAwx6swrooC7tgUx6z1cWpj3NsK8ZEATEXvUJoHtRyJFS6ZnnB-9FPPZPflfHP6egxXt00kOUhiPsTf7f08juoo5wqpwYD4xZS6gd6CuGh5LjuK1lokUMPQrz2AzkrauQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","SB 1282, sponsored by Senator Collins, would create a public‑records exemption for information submitted to the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program when disclosure would reveal trade secrets or proprietary business information. Senator Collins told the committee the exemption is intended to protect potential business opportunities veterans bring to the program from disclosure under the state Sunshine Law.

\"We're trying to protect their trade secrets, their information,\" Senator Collins said, explaining that potential business applicants should not have proprietary material become public simply because the applicant is a veteran and records otherwise fall under public‑records law.

There were no questions on the bill during the committee hearing. Joe Marino of Veterans Florida waived in support and one other supporter from AARP indicated support via an appearance form. After brief remarks and no debate, the committee voted to report SB 1282 favorably by roll call. Lois, the clerk, called the roll; Senators Burgess, Jones, Sharif (listed as \"Sherry\" in the roll call block), Trunow, Vice Chair Collins and Chair Wright were recorded as voting yes.

The bill, if enacted, would require the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program to apply the new exemption when evaluating business proposals; specifics of what qualifies as a trade secret or proprietary information will be determined through statutory language and subsequent implementation guidance.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security 3/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","SB 1282, a public‑records exemption tied to the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program, was reported favorably by the committee; sponsor said the change protects proprietary business information submitted to the program.","taxTitle","Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26953,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109174,"Committee approves SB 1280 to modernize veterans employment program, add grants and other veteran benefits",287,1218000,1505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c&start=1218&end=1505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c/thumbnail_1218000.jpg","/articles/6109174/Florida/Committee-approves-SB-1280-to-modernize-veterans-employment-program-add-grants-and-other-veteran-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109174-f470e6b99a38ef57c23a40cdc45818d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770693951&Signature=mOromj8InRI1UDGsrNUIeNGmb-GS34dQZ-d9wOpDsDuf3LUzcGKHkTuMxGCaqtKpXiWmrsg3p5bDG71Y-nRn9Q11ZVHHJ1X~WCzaELzr~ekUCLxIXZN0t6zrvSnHfOC1acSDTBvk1kaH7V74MztE8kkuBSfdYWPO2QWESAQ346yvnUGcqh0A7v7nt81W5rzFnH0Ctqy67DYzurK7lLr1UT7c3g9A9BEuENpTQTULkJaFxekKiP2F4bUEhcI5ugwdOK4EL2Wnj7sc8QLaZ0D9n-P3RPjju-LvLZHHLhjD3cRrgcxCeJ0rpPT8bB5cLuW~ePgrdL1l73zb6HCg8ui7FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SB 1280, a multi-part veterans bill sponsored by Senator Collins, was reported favorably by the committee after the sponsor offered and the committee adopted two amendments.

Senator Collins described the bill as a modernization of the Veterans Employment Program; the Veterans Employment and Training Services Grama becomes the Veterans Florida Opportunity Program, the bill launches a grant program for job training, shifts a reimbursement cap to 5,000 (versus an earlier figure the sponsor referenced as \"8\"), and expands university partnerships and stipends for veteran spouses in agricultural training programs. The bill also includes fee reliefs for veterans and their families for driver's licenses and provides a one-time waiver of certain state business filing fees for veterans starting businesses. In its original form it included discounted or free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for certain service members; that provision was later removed in an amendment.

Senator Collins also described two amendments the committee adopted. Amendment 316,166 would designate a different state flagship vessel by enabling the SS American Victory to be the state's new flagship, replacing the currently designated Western Union Schooner (the sponsor described the schooner as in poor repair). The amendment also added a technical change to specialty veteran license plates: the sponsor said staff proposed embossing \"DV\" in the top-left corner of specialty plates so disabled-veteran designation could appear on any specialty plate style.

A second amendment, barcode 259,822, removed discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses from the bill; Senator Collins said the trust fund that supports those licenses \"is not at an adequate level,\" and the committee would not use General Revenue to pay for the licenses, so the provision was withdrawn.

There was light debate; several advocacy representatives signaled support by waving on their appearance forms. Joe Marino of Veterans Florida waived and indicated support; Karen Moreau of AARP also indicated support. Senator Shreve offered a brief, joking remark during debate; no opposition was recorded on the measure as amended.

Lois called the roll after closing remarks; Senators Burgess, Jones, Sharif, Trudell, Vice Chair Collins and Chair Wright were recorded as voting yes. By that vote the committee reported SB 1280 favorably.

The measure contains several programmatic and funding elements that will require further drafting and implementation steps if enacted, including grant program rules, stipend eligibility and trust-fund conditions.

","SB 1280 was reported favorably after amendments: it renames and modernizes the veterans employment program (Veterans Florida Opportunity Program), establishes job-training grants, adjusts a reimbursement cap, adds education stipends and fee reliefs, and adopts several technical amendments including a specialty‑plate change.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109179,"Committee advances bill allowing certain veterans nonprofits to create designated nursing home beds",216,1001000,1217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c&start=1001&end=1217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2763697-9144a03632176a9fc05af01fe286421c/thumbnail_1001000.jpg","/articles/6109179/Florida/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-certain-veterans-nonprofits-to-create-designated-nursing-home-beds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109179-b028f35281eec60336388258b86fce7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770693951&Signature=l3XVmCzNmgNngr1AsnOXf1Q91VEDscVSMEkQKaz220KMMHkfEIIgX~MwJgvoehS7ioEPDzyUfGrgCjiYIeGyB11Yf3UCUv1r5AomI3bWJhGTWHqSO80O81VaRWjnhowTrjxLvdT5p39eEi8do~JfvrJhsxmxAJEyAeoihFwwkTPVgG121U3K7PjG5PHsMhEFjuaJkCJLWxR5tAs2BB64q0aYNH6TPFXNSnrhcczivlr8Wx0DhVzLR9yjUZJrsYmnn8m50HAocS8pPYrOaZP1pAQqeuztV93vsoAavGubiq9GQrtOjKKDEl2yaRBeGWkUkqPIgbgFHga9CZRhaC6AWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SB 788 — a bill to let certain nonprofit veteran retirement communities establish veteran-and-spouse-designated nursing home beds — was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security on a unanimous roll call.

The bill, explained by Senator Tranow, would authorize the executive director of the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs to permit a 501(c)(3) nonprofit retirement community that operates housing exclusively for veterans, their spouses and surviving spouses to create veteran-and-spouse-designated skilled nursing facility beds. The bill also allows transfer of the certificate-of-need beds for that purpose within a limit of 100 miles.

Senator Tranow told the committee SB 788 “would authorize the executive director of the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs to allow a 501(c)(3) nonprofit retirement community operating on a campus with housing for only veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses to create veteran and spouse designated nursing home beds in skilled nursing facilities.” He later said the measure could be “a beginning of something that would help us in the future” and noted an approximate shortfall of “somewhere around 4,000 beds” in the region.

Brooke McClain, chief executive officer of the Air Force Enlisted Village, told the committee her organization supports the bill. \"We are very much in support of this bill,\" McClain said, adding the organization operates independent and assisted living on its campus in the Shalimar/Fort Walton Beach–Destin area but cannot currently provide skilled nursing onsite.

There were no recorded questions from committee members during the presentation and no formal amendments to the bill in this hearing. Lois, the clerk, called the roll; Senators Burgess, Jones, Sharif, Schoonau, Vice Chair Collins and Chair Wright were recorded as voting yes. By that vote, the committee reported SB 788 favorably.

The committee did not set implementation details in the hearing. Senator Tranow urged continued private–public partnership work with the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs to expand capacity.

SB 788 will proceed to the next step in the legislative process as reported out of committee.

","The Senate committee reported SB 788 favorably after sponsor Senator Tranow said the bill would let 501(c)(3) nonprofit veteran retirement communities create veteran-and-spouse-designated skilled nursing beds and transfer certificates of need within 100 miles.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs public-records exemption for Veterans Florida Opportunity Program

Committee approves SB 1280 to modernize veterans employment program, add grants and other veteran benefits

Committee advances bill allowing certain veterans nonprofits to create designated nursing home beds