Bill > S0860

This bill makes several changes related to military members and veterans in Florida, including modifying the Educational Dollars for Duty program (EDD) to allow for more types of educational and certification training and establishing a Florida Veterans' Walk of Honor and Memorial Garden. It also directs state offices to analyze certain grant and entrepreneur initiative programs, creates a nonprofit corporation called Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. within the Department of Veterans' Affairs to promote the state as veteran-friendly and assist veterans with employment and entrepreneurship, and revises provisions related to veteran preference in state hiring, including expanding eligibility and adjusting point allocations. Additionally, the bill updates the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) adoption for the Florida National Guard, clarifies residency requirements for state veterans' homes, adjusts driver's license requirements for military personnel and their families, waives certain licensing fees for veterans and their spouses, and creates pathways for military health care practitioners to obtain Florida licenses, including temporary certificates for those serving in areas of critical need. It also establishes a tuition waiver program for honorably discharged veterans and appropriates funds for various initiatives, including renovations to state readiness centers, land acquisition to protect military installations from encroachment, and support for Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.