State law aiming to improve veteran services and preserve their stories takes effect July 1

Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1329, which aims to bolster many of the state's veterans programs and creates a history program to preserve their stories.

Named after Maj. John Leroy Haynes, a U.S. Marine who died in 2023 at the age of 93, the new law takes effect July 1.

Working in tandem, Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, assisted with language that led to the bill's passage.

HB 1329 will introduce the Florida Veterans’ History Program, which was born and bred from Burgess’ frustration in trying to contact Florida's D-Day veterans to commemorate D-Day’s 75^th Anniversary.

“It was nearly impossible,” he said in a news release issued by his office.

Burgess said that he realized the importance of preserving the memory of Florida’s heroes before it was too late to do so.

“Creating the Florida Veterans’ History Program will ensure that we remember the stories, impart the courage, and honor the service of Florida’s veterans,” he said. “Having the opportunity to not only help establish this program, but to name it after one of Florida’s greatest heroes, like Major Haynes, is truly an honor.”

Burgess underscored that because of the program, Florida’s heroes will never be forgotten.

“Their stories will live on to benefit Floridians for generations to come,” he said.

Burgess gave a nod to Collins as well as Reps. Danny Alvarez, R-Riverview, and Mike Redondo, R-Miami, for “championing this important legislation to honor and support veterans in the Florida House.”

“As a retired Army Green Beret and a military spouse, I understand firsthand the type of support Veterans need and the difficulties they can often face,” Collins said in the release.

Collins described the passing of HB 1329 as validation that Florida is the most veteran-friendly state in America.

“It’s an honor to serve as a voice for veterans in the Legislature and help good policies like this that truly make a difference get across the finish line,” he said.

According to the news release, HB 1329 will:

• Initiate the Maj. John Leroy Haynes Veterans’ History Program to record and preserve the history Florida’s veterans.

• Appoint Veterans Florida as the initial point of contact for military transition assistance for Florida’s target market.

• Define Veterans Florida target market as members of the U.S. Armed Forces with 24 months or less until they are discharged; veterans with 36 months or less since they were discharged; and Florida National Guard or reserve members, and their spouses.

• Add two ex officio, nonvoting members from the House and Senate (appointed by the presiding officers) to the board of Veterans Florida.

• Revise the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program to match the target market with target and secondary industry businesses and grants; encourage entrepreneurship and veteran-owned small businesses to grow; and redesignate the SkillBridge program as the SkillBridge initiative.

HB 1329 will also create links between Veterans Florida and state agencies by authorizing Veterans Florida to assist state agencies to recruit veteran talent and maximize access to benefits, services, training and education.

Other provisions include:

• New hunting and fishing license fee exemptions for disabled, honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veterans who are certified with a 50% or greater service-connected disability by the VA or a branch of the Armed Forces.

• Including two veterans who have had a traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or sub-concussive impacts from their service, or their family members, to the Advisory Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries.

• Required public school instruction on the history and significance of Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

Haynes completed 30 years of active-duty service that included combat duty in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His numerous awards include a Purple Heart; a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Gold Star and Combat “V”; a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; three stars; two Presidential Unit Citations; three Navy Unit Citations; a Combat Action Ribbon; a China Service Medal; an Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; a Korean Service Medal; a Vietnam Service Medal; a World War II Victory Medal; and the Cross of Gallantry - Silver Star (Vietnam).

Haynes was internationally recognized for his expertise in disposing of explosive ordinances designed for a reduced number of causalities.

After completing his military service, Major Haynes spent 50 years as a volunteer to service Veteran comrades and their families. Other accolades include his induction into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame; a Governor’s Medal of Merit; and joining former Governor Rick Scott in Washington DC for the signing of the “VA Mission Act of 2018.”

Haynes received the DAR Medal of Honor a year prior to his death.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: State law aims to improve veteran services and preserve their stories