As we close out Week 5 of Session, several important developments have come to light.
The House introduced its first budget proposal, and I’m pleased to report that our request for $200,000 is halfway there. Now is the time for action — and the sooner the better. We need your help making phone calls immediately.
Please contact your House and Senate members and ask them to support full funding for Boys State and Girls State. In addition, we ask that you directly contact the Budget Chairs:
• Senator Hooper — (850) 487-5021
• Representative McClure — (850) 717-5068
Let them know you support Boys State and Girls State being funded at the full $200,000 level.
Your voice still matters. Emails and phone calls remain one of the most effective forms of advocacy, and your outreach truly influences the process. When contacting legislators about this funding, please reference the following appropriations:
• Senate Appropriation 2602 — Tom Leek
• House Appropriation 2799 — Michelle Salzman
Mentioning these appropriations helps legislative staff quickly identify the funding request and route your message appropriately.
Meanwhile, the Veterans Treatment Court measure has cleared the House and is awaiting final action in the Senate. The Dental Program continues moving in a positive direction. Charitable Fundraising and our Dispenser legislation appear to have stalled for now, but we are actively working with bill sponsors on related items and remain hopeful for a favorable posture.
Please take a few minutes to complete the advocacy action below so your voice is heard:
As we close out Week 4 of the 2026 Legislative Session, I can say without hesitation — it has been a busy and productive time in Tallahassee. From participating in Military Week at the Capitol to testifying in committee and holding meetings with legislative members, your advocacy efforts are being seen and felt.
During this past week, our Department Commander, along with portions of her executive team, conducted numerous meetings on behalf of The American Legion. Their presence and engagement reinforced our priorities and demonstrated the strength of our organization. The Commander also attended the Florida Veterans Council meeting, where she had the opportunity to observe our Legislative team in action — a strong example of coordinated advocacy working exactly as intended.
I’m pleased to report that the Veterans Treatment Court bill has already passed the House floor, and the Senate version remains in a strong position. This is a meaningful step forward in ensuring veterans across Florida have access to the support systems they deserve.
We do, however, still have work ahead of us on the charitable bingo Dispenser bills — HB 609 and SB 1282. A great deal of groundwork is underway as we continue clarifying language and addressing concerns alongside bill sponsors. These conversations are critical to protecting fundraising tools that support our Posts and the communities we serve.
For those tracking HB 429 and SB 536, adjustments were made to the bill language to ensure charitable rides are not negatively impacted. With that clarification in place, continue your mission work — and as we like to say, keep the rubber side down.
Looking ahead, next week will be another active stretch of Session, and we need your help on the Dispenser bills. Please take a few minutes to complete the advocacy action below so your voice is heard:
As we head into the weekend, I want to provide a brief Friday Update, particularly for those of you who will be coming into Tallahassee next week. Much of my time over the coming days will be focused on preparing for your arrival and coordinating meetings to ensure our efforts at the Capitol are effective and organized.
Several bills continue to move across committee calendars—some raising areas of concern, while many others deserve our sincere gratitude. Overall, momentum is building, and engagement remains critical as we advance through Session.
VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER
If you plan on attending Capitol Days in Tallahassee, you must RSVP with me in advance. (Stuartscottfl@gmail.com)
Once the week begins, we will be a body in full motion. Stopping to accommodate individuals who did not RSVP ahead of time is counterproductive and unfair to those who properly notified us of their participation. Please be respectful of the time, planning, and effort put forth by your fellow Legionnaires.
Attached to this update is the current bill tracker, outlining the veteran-related legislation we are monitoring and the status of each measure.
During Capitol Days:
Some participants will be assigned to specific meetings with key legislators
Others will be part of canvassing teams, meeting with legislative offices throughout the Capitol
Please be aware that the week of February 2nd is Military Week at the Capitol, with numerous VSOs and military installations hosting displays and events. The Capitol will be active and busy throughout the week.
For those who have already RSVP’d, you will receive a separate email from me with meeting times, locations, and additional details.
Unable to Attend in Person?
Your voice still matters. Emails and phone calls to your legislators remain an extremely effective form of advocacy.
For those wishing to contact legislators specifically regarding Boys State and Girls State funding, please reference the following appropriations when making contact:
Senate Appropriation 2602 – Senator Leek
House Appropriation 2799 – Representative Salzman
Thank you for your continued engagement, professionalism, and dedication to advocating for Florida’s veterans, our Posts, and the communities we serve.
Stay engaged.
Stay informed.
And as always—thank you for answering the call.
Thank you for your continued engagement as we move deeper into the 2026 Legislative Session. As bills begin moving through the committee process—some gaining momentum, others facing resistance—it is clear that time is not on our side. We are now approaching the close of the first two weeks of Session, and the window for effective grassroots advocacy is narrowing.
So, what does that mean for you?
It means our opportunity to make our voices heard is like sand in an hourglass—slowly running out. But it also means we have a powerful opportunity in front of us.
Florida Capitol Days – February 3rd & 4th
On February 3rd and 4th, we will be at the Florida Capitol meeting directly with key legislators to discuss The American Legion’s priorities. Teams will be formed and assigned to specific House and Senate offices to ensure our message is delivered clearly, professionally, and with strength.
If you are interested in being part of this grassroots effort, now is the time to begin making your arrangements.
This will allow us to begin forming teams and keep you informed of any pre-meetings or coordination briefings.
Not Able to Attend in Person?
Grassroots advocacy takes many forms. If traveling to Tallahassee is not possible, you can still make a tremendous impact by contacting your local legislators through emails and phone calls and letting them know where you stand on our priorities.
Attached to this update is our current Veterans Legislative Bill Tracker, outlining the measures we are monitoring and our position on each.
Stay engaged. Stay informed.
And thank you for making your voice heard on behalf of Florida’s veterans, our Posts, and the communities we proudly serve.
As we prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins on January 13th, it is important that we begin focusing our attention on veteran-related issues and legislation that directly affects our Posts and the communities we serve.
Over the past several weeks, we have already begun District-level training in preparation for the work ahead—particularly our efforts surrounding Charitable Fundraising legislation. The groundwork is being laid now so that, once Session is underway, we are positioned to respond quickly and effectively.
Please find attached a document outlining the bills we are currently tracking for the upcoming Session. These measures include issues related to charitable gaming and fundraising, tax exemptions, Veteran Treatment Courts, and other proposals that may impact veterans, veteran organizations, and community-based programs.
As a reminder, the legislative process moves quickly. At times, we may have as little as 72 hours’ notice before action is needed. When we issue A Call for Action, your timely engagement—emails, phone calls, and outreach to legislators—can make a decisive difference.
Your awareness and involvement are essential to our success this Session. Thank you for staying engaged and for your continued commitment to advocating on behalf of Florida’s veterans and The American Legion.
More updates will follow as we move closer to the opening gavel.
Dear Members of The American Legion, Department of Florida,
Do you have questions or concerns regarding charitable fundraising — especially as it relates to electronic bingo? If so, we need your support and attention now more than ever.
As we continue our mission to ensure clear and fair definitions for charitable gaming through the Florida Legislature, we are facing a new challenge. Following Veterans Day, when nearly every legislator expressed how vital our role as veterans is to this nation, we once again find ourselves questioning why our ability to conduct electronic charitable fundraising remains undefined.
While current legislation in both the House and Senate includes provisions that help organizations like ours, a new potential bill replacement — HB 189 — threatens to undo that progress. If enacted, it would remove our ability to request a declaratory statement in statute and raise the penalties for unknowing violations from a misdemeanor to a felony.
This is unacceptable for an organization committed to serving veterans and their communities through legitimate, transparent charitable efforts.
If you are able, please make plans to attend the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 3:30 PM
I will be speaking in opposition to this bill takeover and urging lawmakers once again to clearly define charitable opportunities for veteran service organizations like ours.
Note: If you are unable to attend the committee meeting in Tallahassee but plan on attending the Department Fall Conference (November 21–22, 2025), you will have an opportunity to hear more about what we are doing for you and your Post during the Legislative Class on Friday at 4:00 PM.
Your presence and support make a difference. Together, we can ensure that our Posts retain the ability to raise funds that directly support veterans, their families, and our communities across Florida.
For God and Country, Stuart Scott
Legislative Chair
The American Legion, Department of Florida
I am writing on behalf of The American Legion, Department of Florida to express our strong support for the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act, specifically H.R. 2605 in the House and S. 1441 in the Senate.
As a resolution-based organization that channels the advocacy of more than 3 million veterans and their families, The American Legion has long recognized the profound therapeutic and life-changing impact of service dogs for veterans struggling with physical disabilities, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions. These critical benefits align directly with our Resolution No. 134: Service Dogs for Injured Service Personnel and Veterans with Mental Health ConditionsVoterVoice.
On June 12, 2025, our Director of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Cole T. Lyle, testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, where he highlighted the mental health and suicide prevention advantages of pairing veterans with service dogs. He shared personal testimony of his own service dog, Kaya, and conveyed how those human-animal bonds not only aid in recovery but often provide the will to survive during individuals’ darkest moments: “When fingers meet fur, magic happens.” The American Legion
By supporting the SAVES Act, The American Legion reaffirms our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for veterans through innovative, compassionate, and practical support. We encourage Congress to pass this legislation swiftly to enable nonprofit, ADI-accredited organizations to expand access to service dogs—without barriers—for those who need them most.
Thank you for your attention to this vital matter. We stand ready to continue our advocacy and urge swift legislative action to deliver healing, independence, and hope to our veterans.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (Division), in partnership with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), has issued an important compliance reminder to all license holders.
Please read carefully:
The Division is requesting that all licensees ensure any gaming machines or gambling activities located on your licensed premises are not in violation of Chapter 849, Florida Statutes.
Gambling in Florida is limited to lawfully designated locations.
Violations may result in criminal and civil penalties, as well as administrative action by the Division, up to and including license revocation.
If you are uncertain about the legality of any gaming or gambling activity at your Post, it is strongly recommended you seek legal guidance immediately.
Enforcement Notice:
During routine inspections, any licensee found to have illegal gaming machines or other forms of unlawful gambling on their premises will be referred to the FGCC for appropriate action.
Action Steps:
Review your premises immediately to ensure compliance.
Contact your amusement vendor for further guidance regarding the legality of any machines in your Post.
If uncertainty remains, seek legal advice.
For additional information or clarification, you may contact the FGCC directly at:
(850) 880-3433 ContactUs@flgaming.gov
Legislative Update:
Please be advised that your American Legion Legislative Team is actively seeking further information regarding any potential future legislation that may provide relief or exemptions for Posts. We will update you as soon as new developments occur.
Please ensure this information is shared with your Post leadership and that immediate action is taken to address any potential issues.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping protect our organization’s integrity and licensing.
Respectfully,
Stuart Scott
Legislative Chair
The American Legion, Department of Florida
If you are interested in the Legislative Process and want to visit with your Legislator in Tallahassee, FL, during the Legislative Session, please plan on attending our Capitol Hill Day on April 2, 2025. This is ALSO, Military Day at the Capitol. More information to follow as details get closer.
As we begin the 2024 session, we have already seen several bills get traction and others get absorbed by other bills, not to mention some that won’t see the light of day. That being said, there have been over 1,700 bills filed along with many appropriation requests, such as our requests for Boys/Girls State and the upcoming 2025 National Convention in Tampa.
When the occasion arises, we will ask for your assistance. Please keep an eye out for communications that come from us in regard to reaching out to your legislative members and request to have your post membership make contact with them. This is our ability to be the grassroots to our endeavors.
Attached to this email are the bills that we are tracking here in Tallahassee. Some we are in support of (Yes) and some we are simply watching to see how the language in the bills move and or change. If the language doesn’t move in the right direction, we will then indicate that we are not in support of the bill (No).
If you would like more information about the bills that we are tracking, please review the bill language through either the Florida House of Representatives or the Florida Senate websites.
We need your immediate assistance in ensuring that we are heard in the capital. The American Legion, Department of Florida has requested two appropriations for program funding. While we are working very hard here in Tallahassee, we need your help to let our State Representatives and Senators know these issues are important to us.
Here’s where you come in…
We need as many people as possible to use the contact information below to make a phone call to these chairpersons. We don’t have a lot of time, so please reach out BEFORE January 19th. Your assistance could help us land these very special appropriations.
We have created a script that you can use when you are making these phone calls. Please be sure to reference the appropriate project number when you are speaking with them.
This allows us to offset costs associated with housing and meals for our delegates while they attend our prestigious youth event. This program is one of our most premiere events here in Florida.
House of Representatives Chairman: Rep Shoaf
Project Number: 2234
Office Number: 850-717-5007
As most are aware, we are hosting the American Legion National Convention in 2025 in Tampa. While this is a National event, The Department of Florida is responsible for many costs associated with the convention. This request will assist with the costs of the buses that transport over 7,000 National Delegates from around the world from their hotels to the convention center.
House of Representatives Chairman: Rep Andrade
Project Number: 2856
Office Number: 850-717-5002
If you have any questions in regards to this request, please feel free to contact me directly. I look forward to working hard for you and your community in all legislation this year.
For God & Country,
Stuart Scott Legislative Chair
One of The American Legion’s most important missions is advocating for our Veterans. We have strength in numbers and that’s why we need you. Together we have a strong voice to make things happen, whether it be on a National or State level.
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