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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