Title: Preferences for Veterans and Military Spouses

Summary: Requiring the state and its political subdivisions to give preference in appointment and retention in positions of employment to the spouses of wartime veterans, veterans, members of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard, and certain active duty servicemembers; defining the term "veteran-owned or military spouse-owned business"; providing for contracting preferences for such businesses; citing this act as the "Florida Veterans and Military Spouse Business Development Act", etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to preferences for veterans and military spouses; amending s. 295.07, F.S.; requiring the state and its political subdivisions to give preference in appointment and retention in positions of employment to the spouses of wartime veterans, veterans, members of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard, and certain active duty servicemembers; amending s. 295.187, F.S.; defining the term  veteran owned or military spouse-owned business ; providing for contracting preferences for such businesses; amending s. 295.188, F.S.; authorizing private employers to adopt employment policies that give preference in hiring to current members of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard and their spouses and the spouses of active duty servicemembers serving in the United States Armed Forces; prohibiting members on active duty training from being eligible for such preference; creating s. 295.189, F.S.; providing a short title; providing definitions; requiring the Department of State to waive specified fees for certain businesses; providing eligibility requirements for the fee waivers; providing applicability; providing specified tax exemptions for certain businesses; requiring the Department of Revenue to develop procedures for such exemptions; providing that such exemptions apply for a specified period for certain businesses relocating to this state; establishing the Veteran and Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Program in consultation with the Department of Commerce; providing requirements for the program; requiring that certain businesses receive expedited processing for certain certifications; providing for rulemaking and interagency cooperation; providing reporting requirements; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraphs (c), (f), and (g) of subsection (1) of section 295.07, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph (h) is added to that subsection, to read: 295.07 Preference in appointment and retention.  (1) The state and its political subdivisions shall give preference in appointment and retention in positions of employment to: (c) A wartime veteran as defined in s. 1.01(14), who has served at least day during a wartime period,and his or her spouse.Active duty for training may not be allowed for eligibility under this paragraph. (f) A veteran as defined in s. 1.01(14) and his or her spouse.Active duty for training may not be allowed for eligibility under this paragraph. (g) A current member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard and his or her spouse.(h)   The spouse of an active duty servicemember serving in the United States Armed Forces. Active duty training may not be allowed for eligibility under this paragraph. Section 2. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 295.187, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (e), a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and subsection (4) of that section is amended, to read: 295.187 Florida Veteran Business Enterprise Opportunity Act.  (3) DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this section, the term: (d)    Veteran-owned or military spouse-owned business  has the same meaning as in s. 295.189(3). (4) VENDOR PREFERENCE.  (a) A state agency, when considering two or more bids, proposals, or replies for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, at least one of which is from a certified veteran business enterprise or veteran-owned or military spouse owned business,which are equal with respect to all relevant considerations, including price, quality, and service, shall award such procurement or contract to the certified veteran business enterprise or the veteran-owned or military spouse owned business.(b) Notwithstanding s. 287.057(12), if a veteran business enterprise or a veteran-owned or military spouse-owned business entitled to the vendor preference under this section and one or more businesses entitled to this preference or another vendor preference provided by law submit bids, proposals, or replies for procurement of commodities or contractual services which are equal with respect to all relevant considerations, including price, quality, and service, the state agency shall award the procurement or contract to the business having the smallest net worth. (c) Political subdivisions of the state are encouraged to offer a similar consideration to businesses certified under this section. Section 3. Section 295.188, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 295.188 Preference in hiring veterans and their spouses for private employers.  (1) The Legislature intends to establish a permissive preference in private employment for certain veterans and their spouses.(2) A private employer may adopt an employment policy that gives preference in hiring to an honorably discharged veteran, as defined in s. 1.01(14); the spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability, as described in s. 295.07(1)(b); the unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability, as described in s. 295.07(1)(d); or the unremarried widow or widower of a member of the United States Armed Forces who died in the line of duty under combat related conditions;a current member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard or his or her spouse; or the spouse of an active duty servicemember serving in the United States Armed Forces.Active duty training may not be allowed for eligibility under this subsection. Such policy shall be applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring and promotion. (3) These preferences are not considered violations of any state or local equal employment opportunity law. Section 4. Section 295.189, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 295.189   Business development incentives for veterans and military spouses.  (1)   SHORT TITLE. This act may be cited as the  Florida Veterans and Military Spouse Business Development Act.  (2)   LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.  (a)   The Legislature finds that veterans and military spouses contribute significantly to this state s economy through their skills, expertise, and entrepreneurial efforts. (b)   The Legislature recognizes the challenges of frequent relocations and economic instability faced by many military spouses. (c)   It is the intent of the Legislature that this act attract and support veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses by providing financial and operational incentives. (3)   DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this section, the term: (a)    Military spouse  means the spouse of: 1.   An active duty member of the United States Armed Forces; or 2.   A veteran. (b)    Veteran  has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14). (c)    Veteran-owned or military spouse-owned business  means a business entity that is at least percent owned, controlled, or managed by one or more veterans or military spouses. (4)   FEE WAIVER.  (a)   The Department of State shall waive all fees for: 1.   A new business established by a veteran or military spouse. 2.   An existing veteran-owned or military spouse-owned business that relocates to this state. (b)   The Department of State shall establish registration requirements for such fee waivers, which must include: 1.   For veterans, a DD Form or another acceptable form of identification as specified by the Department of Veterans  Affairs; or 2.   For military spouses, verification of a military spouse relationship with a spouse who is on active duty. (c)   The fee waivers apply to veteran-owned or military spouse-owned businesses established or certified between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2030. (5)   TAX EXEMPTIONS.  (a)   Eligible veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses shall receive: 1.   A 5-year exemption from the state corporate income tax and state franchise tax. 2.   A one-time sales tax exemption on equipment and supplies directly related to its business operations. (b)   The Department of Revenue shall establish procedures for claiming these exemptions. (c)   For businesses relocating to this state, tax exemptions apply for years after the date of certification. (6)   VETERAN AND MILITARY SPOUSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM.  (a)   The Department of Veterans  Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce, shall establish the Veteran and Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Program, including an application process and eligibility criteria. The program must include: 1.   Personalized business mentorship and consulting services. 2.   Assistance with obtaining startup capital through state and federal funding programs. 3.   Educational resources, including workshops on business planning, marketing, and regulatory compliance. (b)   Priority must be given to applications from businesses that are veteran-owned or military spouse-owned. (7)   EXPEDITED PROCESSING. Veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses must receive expedited processing for certifications. (8)   ADMINISTRATION. The Department of Veterans  Affairs, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of State shall: (a)   Develop rules for administering this section. (b)   Ensure interagency cooperation for seamless implementation of this section. (9)   ANNUAL REPORTING. The Department of Veterans  Affairs shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes: (a)   The number of veteran-owned or military spouse-owned businesses that were established in this state or that relocated to this state. (b)   Economic metrics such as jobs created by and tax revenue impact of veteran-owned or military spouse-owned businesses. (c)   Demographic data for the participating veterans and military spouses. Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.